Pacific Edge is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles Sitch as an Independent Director.

Charles is a director of Spark (formerly Telecom New Zealand) and was previously a director of the global management consulting firm McKinsey and Co for 24 years. At McKinsey he was a leader of the retail, consumer and marketing practices and later a senior director, primarily working with CEOs and Boards on strategy and operations turnarounds. He led McKinsey industry practices in New York, Shanghai and Sydney.

Welcoming the appointment, Pacific Edge Chairman Chris Swann says the deep international perspective gained by Charles from his career with McKinsey and involvement in new business ventures since will be particularly relevant as the Company accelerates the commercialisiation of its leading Cxbladder technology globally.

"The appointment of Charles will add a further dimension to the expertise of the Board and his experience working with McKinsey globally brings a very strong strategic capability."

Charles has been a Spark Board member since 2011. He is a member of the Board of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne and a committee member of the Melbourne Cricket Club. He was previously an advisory director at Bkk Partners, an investment bank. Charles holds degrees in law and commerce from Melbourne University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Charles will start with the Board formally on 1 November 2014.