Executive appointments
New in the job at Pyne Gould Corp, new insurance company Partners Life, Buddle Findlay, Synlait Milk, First National Group, NZTE, KPMG and more.
New in the job at Pyne Gould Corp, new insurance company Partners Life, Buddle Findlay, Synlait Milk, First National Group, NZTE, KPMG and more.
Former Kiwibank chief executive and current Xero and Localist chairman Sam Knowles has been appointed to the board of newly established New Zealand-owned life insurance company Partners Life.
Mr Knowles joins board chairman Boyd Klap (a previous chief executive of Prudential and Life Offices Association), Joanna Perry (a former member of the Securities Commission and KPMG partner), and company founders Naomi Ballantyne, Richard Coon and Chris Coon.
Pyne Gould Corp has appointed two directors, Michael Tinkler and Russell Naylor. Mr Tinkler is a commercial lawyer and is acting as the PGC general counsel. He was previously a commercial real estate partner at Buddle Findlay. Mr Naylor is the principal of Naylor Partners, a boutique Sydney-based corporate advisory firm. He is also an executive director and investment committee member at PGC’s Torchlight.
Buddle Findlay has appointed Nick Whalley as a solicitor in its Wellington litigation team. Sebastian Bisley has rejoined the company’s Wellington office as a senior associate in the litigation team. Mr Whalley was previously in the litigation management unit at Inland Revenue.
Synlait Milk has appointed Matthew Foster general manager supply chain. Mr Foster spent a year as commercial manager with international shipping line Tasman Orient/Swire, before joining transport and logistics business NZL Group as chief executive and commercial manager. Before this Mr Foster spent 18 years with the NZ Dairy Board, including Fonterra, in finance and management roles.
First National Group has appointed Colleen Milne as general manager. Ms Milne recently completed an MBA at Auckland University of Technology. She was previously the country franchise manager for Bakers Delight in New Zealand and before that was the financial controller and operations manager at Retail Food Group, an Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor.
The Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association has appointed David Brown chairman of its governing council. Mr Brown has been a member of the council for the past three and a half years. He has a background in funds management and private equity.
Accor Hotels Wellington has appointed Denise McRae director of sales and marketing. Ms McRae has previously worked with South Pacific Hotels at the Wellington Parkroyal, the Duxton Hotel Wellington and Positively Wellington Tourism. Niki Trullhas been appointed conference manager.
Peter Chew has been appointed associate director within the performance service line of KPMG’s government and infrastructure team. Mr Chew has been with KPMG in New Zealand for two years. Before moving to New Zealand, Peter supported similar initiatives for KPMG within the UK government.
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) has appointed John Cochrane trade commissioner/consul in Guangzhou. Mr Cochrane joined NZTE in late 2011 from Commtest, designers of machinery health information systems. He led Commtest toward its acquisition by GE Energy in August 2011 and was responsible for establishing Commtest’s operations in Beijing. Ivan Kinsella has been appointed investment director Greater China based in Beijing. Mr Kinsella has over 20 years’ experience dealing with Asia in corporate, advisory and government roles. His experience includes roles with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; trade commissioner for Trade New Zealand in Taipei between 1991 and 1994; and two stints as trade commissioner in Beijing with Austrade. Kevin Parishhas been appointed trade commissioner in Hong Kong. Mr Parish was previously regional manager for NZTE’s Christchurch office. He has had a range of business roles in New Zealand and overseas as well running his own business. Richard White has been appointed trade commissioner in New Delhi. Previously Mr White managed NZTE’s Incubator Support Programme. Earlier he spent three years as chief executive of the Insurance Institute of New Zealand and 15 years in corporate and commercial banking.
IT business solutions provider Intergen has appointed Martin Gale southern regional manager, heading up the company’s South Island team. Mr Gale was previously South Island manager at Fujitsu, general manager – information and technology services for SBS Bank in Invercargill and retail business services manager at Meridian Energy. He replaces Tim Mole, who has been appointed to lead Intergen’s Business Intelligence team.