Executive Appointments

Quentin Doig has been appointed general manager of RiskWorldwide in Christchurch, an international disaster insurance recovery firm. Mr Doig spent 24 years with the NZ Police, including heading the CIB in Wellington. His subsequent managerial work has included 10 years with ACC and Housing New Zealand in senior positions with national responsibilities.

The Radio Network has appointed Jane Hastings chief executive. 
Ms Hastings was general manager of Amalgamated Holdings. She was previously group general manager of marketing and sales at Sky City Entertainment Group. Ms Hastings has also been managing director at Tequila Asia Pacific in Singapore, regional director of integrated marketing services at Draftworldwide Japan, regional director of customer relationship management at Wunderman Cato Johnson in Singapore and director of communications at ICLP in Hong Kong.

Patrick Lee-Lo, group general manager of ToTal Property Services in Auckland, has been named president of Building Services Contractors of New Zealand. He succeeds Brian Young who served nine years as president. Mr Lee-Lo was previously vice president and has also headed the BSC Auckland committee for the past seven years. Mr Lee-Lo began his career in the electronics industry and was regional manager of Sharp Corporation NZ in Auckland before moving into the building services industry, launching his own cleaning company in 1990. He joined ToTal five years ago. Mr Lee-Lo has extensive leadership experience.

Westpac has appointed Gina Dellabarca regional manager business banking northern covering from Pukekohe south through to the Far North. For the past five years Ms Dellabarca has led the South Island retail network and before that was director of customer experience and service.

The International Federation of Health Plans, the London-based global network of health insurance chief executives, has appointed Ian McPherson of Southern Cross Healthcare Group as a joint vice-president. Dr McPherson has been a member of the federation’s council for many years.

The Arts Centre Trust Board in Christchurch has appointed André Lovatt chief executive. Mr Lovatt is a principal and director of international consulting engineering firm Arup, based in Singapore. The Arts Centre Trust Board has also appointed Jen Crawfordchairwoman. Ms Crawford is a partner at Anderson Lloyd Lawyers and has 16 years’ experience in resource management law. Ms Crawford replaces Cindy Robinson.

Colmar Brunton has promoted Jacqueline Ireland to chief executive, replacing Harry Papafloratos, who died earlier this year. Ms Ireland was previously managing director of Colmar Brunton Auckland. Ms Ireland started her career with Colmar Brunton over 16 years ago as an account director in the business research team, rising up the ranks to group account director, then director of the quantitative team and was appointed managing director of the Auckland business in 2002.

Debbie Reid has rejoined Buddle Findlay’s Auckland office as a senior solicitor in the banking and finance team. Ms Reid specialises in syndicated lending, project finance and debt restructuring. She returned to New Zealand after five years working for an international law firm in London and Abu Dhabi.

SAP Australia and New Zealand has appointed Andrew Barkla president and managing director, SAP ANZ. Mr Barkla has 20 years of local and international business experience. He was previously with Unisys as regional vice president, general manager Asia Pacific and Japan. Previously, Mr Barkla was vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific at PeopleSoft and at System Software Associates (SSA) in Australia and New Zealand.

Lisa Jansen has been appointed start-up marketing and communication executive at The Icehouse. After completing her master in commerce from the University of Auckland, Ms Jansen has worked for a software distribution company and in several start-up projects. Amy Davidsonhas been appointed marketing and communications executive. Ms Davidson has a bachelor of communications majoring in public relations. She was previously an account manager at Pead PR.

First State Investments has appointed Matthew Laing head of wholesale, New Zealand. Mr Laing was previously head of wholesale at Axa Global Investors in Auckland. Previously he spent several years as the head of business development at Trust Investment Management.

Gilpin Travel has appointed Justine Beguelysenior account manager. Ms Beguely, who has 18 years experience in the tourism and travel industry, was formerly sales manager for the Hilton Hotel in Auckland.

Project delivery company Arrow International has appointed Mike Taylor branch manager of the Waikato, Bay of Plenty region. Mr Taylor has more than 15 years’ experience in the construction industry in both New Zealand and London.

The NZ Affordable Art Trust, the governing body behind New Zealand’s largest art show, has appointed two new trustees. Anne Stephenson is the principal of Wellington accountancy firm Stephenson Thorner, and Neil Paviour-Smith is managing director of leading sharebroking and investment banking firm Forsyth Barr.

Kim Leighton has been appointed to head the commercial accounting and finance division of Evolve Recruitment in Auckland. Ms Leighton is a qualified chartered accountant. 

Corporate and public affairs consultancy Exceltium has appointed former Star Public Relations director Alan McDonald general manager of its consulting team. Mr McDonald, a former journalist, has more than 15 years experience in corporate and public affairs. He is a former corporate affairs manager for farming co-operative NZ Dairy Group and TranzRail, held senior communications roles within Fonterra and worked with leading businesses.

McGrath Nicol has made Kare Johnstone a partner. Ms Johnstone has over 16 years experience in providing advisory, restructuring and insolvency services to lenders and businesses across multiple industries in New Zealand and the UK. 

Intel has appointed Stephanie Ryan public relations manager, Australia and New Zealand. Ms Ryan replaces Anna Torres, who has been promoted to ANZ marketing manager. Ms Ryan was previously with Medtronic where she was responsible for media relations and internal communications. Before that, she spent a year in Bangladesh working for the Centre of Injury Prevention and Research as media and communications officer.

Public relations agency Wright Communications has appointed Jill Dryden general manager. Ms Dryden was a co-owner of Star PR. Nicolette Brown has been appointed as a senior consultant and Jocelyn Reinas a consultant. They have journalism backgrounds as well as PR agency and contracting work experiences.

Duncan Cotterill Lawyers has appointed two associates. Catherine Milner, of the Wellington office, is a member of the national tax team. She deals with tax disputes with Inland Revenue. In Christchurch, Janine Ballinger specialises in property and earthquake related issues.

APN has appointed Donna O’Keeffe agency sales director. Ms O’Keefe was previously sales director of APN Digital and had previously worked for the New Zealand Herald. Jacqueline Freemanhas been appointed sales development director.Daniel Dalton has been appointed sales director – direct. Karen Prendergast has been appointed sales director classifieds. Ms Prendergast was previously trading manager with NZ Magazines.



Philip Townsendhas been appointed senior associate at Paul Diver Associates, an Auckland employment relations consultancy. Mr Townsend has experience creating collective agreement bargaining solutions.