Executive Appointments

Wellington internet expert Keith Davidson has been made a trustee of the Internet Society (Isoc). Elected to Isoc’s 12-strong board, he will oversee internet policy, governance, technology and development work. He will continue to head InternetNZ’s international work and relationships. Mr Davidson has owned a Wairarapa-based ISP and became involved in local internet governance. He was elected chairman of InternetNZ (2000-04) and later (2006-09) served as its executive director. He also held governance positions within ICANN and APTLD (the Asia Pacific Top Level Domain Association, a collaboration of ccTLD operators like .nz). He has also been the prime driving force for the Pacific Internet Governance Forum and serves on the organising committee for the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Forum.

The board of AdviceFirst has appointed Peter Chote executive chairman chairman. AdviceFirst is part of the AMP group. Mr. Chote’s career in financial services spans more than 20 years. He is an authorised financial adviser, chartered life underwriter, a current qualifying and life member of MDRT and is past chairman of MDRT Oceania, MDRT NZ and ex-president of the Axa Advisers Association

Richard Hooper is joining Adobe as New Zealand business development manager. He has over 15 years’ experience in sales, marketing and business management with the company and has previously worked for MYOB, Exonet and Ernst & Young. Earl Tipenehas been appointed solutions consultant. He has worked in project management and consultancy roles for over 12 years, including the design and creative sectors. Owen Harrishas been appointed as a senior web experience management consultant for the Asia Pacific region, based in Auckland. He has had a diverse 18-year track record of corporate and IT consulting, services and project management.

Richard Collyer has joined the New Zealand office of communications partnership Kreab Gavin Anderson. Mr Collyer previously led communications and public relations for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, which was responsible for the $A7.5 billion infrastructure rebuilding programme that followed Cyclone Yasi and the 2010-11 floods; he also advised the Queensland State Treasury on the $A4.6 billion float of QR National.

Jonathan Lyttle has been made general manager of Colliers International (agency) in Christchurch. He joined Colliers as an industrial broker in 2006 and was last year appointed manager of Colliers’ commercial leasing team in the city. Mr Lyttle has led a collaborative initiative of major office occupiers to identify the priority CBD areas to which they would like to return.

Chapman Tripp has appointed 21 new senior associates, and three special counsel. Special counsel is a new role at Chapman Tripp, created for highly experienced, senior practitioners who excel in their chosen field. The three special counsel are Alan Lester, finance, Wellington; Nick Lough, corporate and commercial, Wellington; and Lyndsey Partridge, private client and trusts, Auckland. Mr Lester’s practice covers banking, finance and debt securities work. Mr Lough focuses on mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. Ms Partridge specialises in trusts (both private and charitable), succession and asset planning. The new senior associates are: (Auckland) Jennifer Tunnaand Tim Walker, finance;Rachel Dunne, Kelly McFadzien and Joshua Pringle, corporate and Commercial; James McMillanand Marie Wisker, litigation and dispute resolution; Luke Hincheyand Teresa Weeks, environment, planning and resource management; Nick Francis and Alistair Law, property, real estate and construction; Phillippa Wilkie, private client and trusts; (Wellington)Josh Blackmore, Chris Bougenand Tim Sherman, corporate and commercial; Nicholas Wood; litigation and dispute resolution; Paul Holth, property, real estate and construction; Jess Rowe, tax (Christchurch) Nicki Carter, Stephanie Mullerand Tania Pearson, corporate and commercial.

Helen Barnes has been appointed business manager for Tomatoes New Zealand, the industry organisation that represents tomato growers. Ms Barnes has worked for Horticulture New Zealand for the past eight years. Previously, she worked in policy roles, with particular focus on the seasonal labour strategy for the horticulture and viticulture industry.

Hamilton-based biotechnology company OBodies, developer of a novel class of antibody-like biopharmaceuticals, has formed a new science advisory board.
Emeritus Professor Dick Bellamy, a virologist and molecular cell biologist, is chairman. The other directors are Professor Margaret Brimble, the chairwoman of organic and medicinal chemistry at the University of Auckland; Dr Peter Senter, the vice-president of chemistry at Seattle Genetics; Dr Mark Baker, associate director at Medicines for Malaria Venture (Geneva); Dr Wayne Patrick, a senior lecturer at the Institute of Natural Sciences at Massey University; and Peter Bradley, a biotechnology commercialisation expert.


Insurance industry entrepreneur Phil Hibbert has been appointed executive manager for speciality insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance. He will lead a growing New Zealand team of 15. He has 15 years’ experience working for industry giants such as GE Finance and IAG and in start-up business concepts DriveRight and Covernow.