Family supportive of Katie Nimon's new role as council's transport manager
The decision to leave the role of General Manager at Nimon and Sons by Katie Nimon was taken with the "full support" of her family.
Nimon announced this week she was leaving her role within the family-owned bus company to become Hawke's Bay Regional Council's new transport manager.
"I’m very excited to join Hawke’s Bay Regional Council as their Transport Manager, and I plan to work hard to achieve their vision of a transport network that fosters a vibrant, accessible and sustainable carbon-neutral Hawke’s Bay," she told Hawke's Bay App.
"I have no doubt that my experience as an operator will be helpful, but I’m most looking forward to the exciting plans that the region has, like on-demand transport, to better connect its community."
She said that without international tourism and school transport the future of Nimons "remains uncertain".
In June this year Nimon and Sons, which had been taking Hawke's Bay's children to school for the past 116-years, lost the Ministry of Education contract.
The 12-year Ministry of Education contract was won by another company Tranzit, from 2022 onward.
Losing the contract was another blow for Nimon and Sons after they lost their public transport contract to Go Bus in 2008.
"So while I’ll no longer be the General Manager for ‘Nimons’, I have the full support of my family to take on this regional role."
She is the fifth generation of the Nimon family to work for the business and has been involved since she became a part-time staffer at the age of 14.
Prior to becoming the general manager in 2018, Nimon also held roles as brand manager and marketing manager.
In 2020 she stood as the National party candidate for the Napier electorate in the 2020 general election but lost by 5856 votes to Labour's longstanding MP Stuart Nash.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council general manager policy and regulation Katrina Brunton said it was great to have her join the council.
