Executive appointments

ANZ NZ has appointed Tessa Price chief executive of UDC Finance. She replaces Chris Cowell, who has been chief executive since 2009. He is retiring after 25 years with ANZ and 37 years in the finance industry. Ms Price has had 14 years’ experience working in financial institutions in New Zealand and Australia. She has experience in asset finance, project management, business analytics, sales, advertising and public relations.

Dr Pushpa Woodwill help Kiwis make more sense of their dollars as the new director of the NZ Centre for Personal Financial Education. The centre, a joint initiative between Westpac and Massey University, aims to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour toward money. Dr Wood was the Commission for Financial Literacy and Retirement Income’s education manager. She has worked across the school, tertiary and industry sectors and is a member of the NZ Qualifications Authority’s project advisory group reviewing financial literacy. She is also the chairwoman of the Adult Literacy Practitioners’ Association.

Destination Queenstown’s general manager of marketing Graham Budd has been appointed chief executive of the regional tourism organisation. He will also continue as a board member of the Regional Tourism Organisations of New Zealand and the Leading Mountain Resorts of the World. Mr Budd has 25 years of marketing experience, including five with Destination Queenstown. Mr Budd has previously held marketing management positions for leading multinational companies including Unilever, Wrightson, Colgate Palmolive, Lexis Nexis and General Cable. Mr Budd replaces Tony Everitt who has joined Tourism NZ’s executive team as general manager Asian markets.

Carl Rowling has been appointed as a consultant to Tompkins Wake’s specialist local government team. Mr Rowling provides legal and strategic advice in complex commercial transactions with a particular focus on local government.

Rachel Easton has been appointed a principal of chartered accountants MGI Auckland. She has been with the firm for eight years and specialises in tax advice.

Nissan New Zealand has appointed Maryon Wils-Parkes corporate business manager. Ms Wils-Parkes has more than 20 years’ sale experience in a range of industries, including transport. She joins Nissan from a role as a national key account manager in the security industry.

Richard Webb has been appointed to NBR Talent as a business development manager. Mr Webb has over 12 years’ experience in recruitment and executive search, most recently with Alexander James in Auckland and with McLaren Global Partners in London, where he launched the firm’s investment management practice.

Deborah Riley has been appointed as a solictor to Brookfields Lawyers. Ms Riley has been an administrator and researcher at the former Auckland City Council and held legal advisory roles with local authorities in the UK.