Executive appointments

State-owned enterprises Minister Tony Ryall has reappointed Joan Withers chairwoman of Mighty River Power for three years. Ms Withers is also chairwoman of Auckland International Airport and deputy chairwoman of Television New Zealand. Keith Smith, also a listed company director, has also been reappointed to the state-owned enterprise board for three years.  Tania Simpson, who has served on the board since 2001, is to remain as a director for a further 18 months. James Millerhas been appointed as a new director. Mr Miller is a director of listed companies NZX and Auckland International Airport and a member of the Financial Markets Authority. . 

National law firm Buddle Findlay has promoted Alexandra Low to special counsel. Ms Low is a senior taxation practitioner specialising in disputes, litigation and trust issues.

Environmental law specialist Hans van der Wal has been appointed special counsel at Duncan Cotterill Lawyers. Mr Van der Wal has acted for local government and private clients on plan and consent-related legal issues and in environmental enforcement proceedings. His public sector clients include both regional and district councils. Chris Shannonhas been appointed as an associate. He was formerly a Crown prosecutor for more than seven years.

Stephen Small has been appointed chief financial officer at The Warehouse Group. Mr Small was previously chief financial officer for General Motors Korea. He is a New Zealander, who has spent 12 years working overseas. Mr Small replaces Luke Bunt, who resigned in February.

ASB Bank has appointed Jon Raby chief financial officer, Steve Jurkovich executive general manager commercial and rural andBlair Turnbull executive general manager wealth and insurance. Mr Raby replaces Shayne Bryant, who has completed his secondment to ASB from Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Mr Raby has held several senior finance roles within the Commonwealth Bank Group of companies and was previously chief financial officer, retail banking and enterprise services at Commonwealth Bank. Mr Jurkovich is from Westpac, where he was regional manager northern region, after joining as the head of SME strategy/sales management. He has also held several senior roles within the Commonwealth Bank Group and spent eight years at ASB where he started as legal counsel. Mr Turnbull joined after nine years in the insurance industry in Hong Kong and Singapore. Most recently he was in Singapore with Asia’s leading insurance provider Great Eastern Life, as executive vice-president, group adviser strategy and projects.

Research-based business consultancy TNS New Zealand has appointed Bindi Norwell director. Ms Norwell has more than 15 years’ business experience. Previously, she  was based in the UK for 10 years working primarily for British Telecom (BT) in a variety of senior strategy and commercial roles. Her most recent role was head of strategy working on UK and international growth opportunities for the BT Wholesale Board.

Following the resignation of Kirk Hopewho is leaving to become chief executive of the NZ Bankers’ Association, Lyn McMorran has been appointed as executive director of the Financial Services Federation (FSF). Ms McMorran was most recently area manager central for Westpac’s Private Bank and is the immediate past president of the Institute of Financial Advisers.

Rachel Broadmore has been appointed communications manager at HSBC on a 12-month maternity contract. Ms Broadmore was most recently the marketing communications manager at The Langham, Auckland, a role which she held for almost four years. Previously she had worked at the New Zealand High Commission in London for five years.

StorageCraft Technology Corporation, a provider of real-time recovery technology and data protection in physical and virtual environments, has appointed Paul Harris regional manager New Zealand. 

Chris Dilloway has been promoted to area two manager at Hirepool. Craig McIntoshhas been promoted to area three manager and Dave Constablehas been appointed area two sales manager. The trio have more than 50 years of industry experience between them. Mr Dilloway was previously manager of area three. Mr McIntosh was hub manager.

Senate Communications has appointed Spiro Anastasiouas a partner in its Wellington office and Scott Campbell as associate partner in its Auckland office. Mr Anastasiou, who will head Senate’s government relations practice, has extensive experience in the public and private sector as well as a background in broadcast journalism. Mr Campbell was general manager of corporate communications at Sky City. His earlier roles include media and communications adviser for then Auckland mayor John Banks, Before that, he was a journalist with TV3.

EMC Australia and New Zealand has appointed Dan Kieran national manager of mid-tier storage Australia and New Zealand. A 20-year veteran of the IT industry, Mr Kieran joins EMC after 13 years at Sun/Oracle in Canada and more recently Australia where he was senior director of storage sales for ANZ. Previously, he worked in sales at IBM and Xerox. EMC has also appointed Karinne Brannigan director marketing, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), replacing Wendy Reidwho has become senior director of marketing for the Asia Pacific and Japan region. Ms Brannigan’s career spans 15 years in the technology industry. Previously, she spent seven years at Symantec/Veritas, where she was head of marketing.

Symantec has appointed Lucas Salter country manager for Symantec’s enterprise business in New Zealand. Mr Salter has more than 15 years of IT industry experience. Previously, he was the territory account manager for Western Australia. Mr Salter has held sales and channel roles at Symantec, Data#3 and CYBEC Pty. Stuart Preston, previously the national sales manager for Symantec in New Zealand, will remain with Symantec as a Wellington-based account director.

Construction equipment supplier NZ Equipment Group has appointed Marc McSkimming general manager South Island sales and service and Andy Bremner South Island territory manager. Mr McSkimming has spent nine years in sales within the construction industry and will continue to run his Global Tractors business alongside his new role while Mr Bremner has most recently spent 18 months working for TracMap.

Hanna Worboys has been appointed area manager on premise Wellington for Negociants. Previously, she had been managing Boulcott Street Bistro for the past three and a half years. Before that Ms Worboys spent seven years working for the Corney & Barrow wine bar chain in London in various roles including general manager at the Jewry Street Wine Bar. Nigel Kelly has been appointed area manager on premise Auckland. Mr Kelly was previously corporate sales manager with Partridge Jewellers. He has worked in various roles in the wine industry over the past 13 years, mostly at Pernod Ricard NZ where he rose to national brand ambassador and as Signe sales manager.  Veronica Wells has been appointed area manager on premise Auckland/Northland. Ms Wells previously worked at Hancocks in Auckland as an on premise manager and as a saleswoman.

Australia-owned Avalanche Technology Group has appointed Kevin Yank chief technology officer. Over the past decade Mr Yank has held chief technology officer and other positions at an online media company. He is also an author and presenter. Mr Yank has a bachelor of computer engineering from McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

The Challenge Trust board of trustees has appointed Derek Wright chief executive of the NGO Recovery Solutions Group and its related entities, including the Challenge Trust. Mr Wright has held senior roles in New Zealand and Australia and was most recently the executive director of mental health and substance abuse services at the Department of Health in South Australia. Lope Ginnen and Pat Snedden have been appointed board trustees. Interim chief executive Stephen McArthur will also join the board as a trustee effective from July. Ms Ginnen is a barrister. She is chairwoman of Brainwave Trust Aotearoa. Mr Snedden was chief Crown negotiator, Ngati Kahu and Te Hiku o Te Ika (Muriwhenua) and was involved in the settlement of major Treaty of Waitangi claims. Mr McArthur is a director of Tinakori Group (a management consultancy) and was previously chief operating officer at Housing NZ. This follows the recent appointment of Leigh Auton, former chief executive of Manukau City Council, as the new chairman of the Recovery Solutions Group. He replaced Allan Duffy. Mr Duffy will stay on the board for up to 12 months and Jane Latimer and Pamela Rankiwill continue as trustees.

Lisa Bates has been appointed to the board of Regional Facilities Auckland and Andrew Higgs to the board of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development. 
Ms Bates has been a producer on Shortland Street and development director and major fundraiser for Q Theatre. 
Mr Higgs is a former executive director of MTV Networks Europe.

Since returning to New Zealand in 2005, he has been with Parex Industries.

Pukeko Pictures, the affiliate television company of Richard Taylor’s Weta Workshop in New Zealand has appointed Adam Frat toexecutive vice-president, development to its “first look” deal with FremantleMedia Enterprises. Mr Fratto will report to Pukeko Pictures’ co-owner Martin Baynton and will work on the development of new scripted television series. He was previously with Atticus Entertainment where he spearheaded television, feature and new media development.

Aurecon has appointed Damien McGahan planning manager, environment and advisory. Mr McGahan has experience in resource management and planning and has extensive experience on large infrastructure projects including roading, airports and industry.

Brewer and distiller Independent Liquor has appointed Paul Webster southern field sales manager. 

Mr Webster was previously area sales manager, upper South Island. He has over 17 years’ experience in the beverage industry and has previously held sales roles at Red Bull and Lion. He has also worked for NZ Hospitality where he managed a portfolio of bars across the South Island. 
 


Flight Centre (NZ) has appointed Phil Goad supplier relations and contracting leader. Mr Goad has had more than 10 years in the travel industry, most recently as regional operations manager at Carlson Wagonlit.

Employment law specialist Kate Ashcroft has been appointed as a senior associate in Brookfields Lawyers’ litigation team. Ms Ashcroft has over eight years’ experience in employment law in New Zealand and her background also includes experience in corporate human resources in Australia. She is a trustee on the board of Volunteering Auckland.

Mako Networks, a network management and PCI DSS-certified security company, has appointed Paul Biegel chief operating officer and chief financial officer. Previously he held senior management roles, most recently as executive director of Ecopoint, an importer and distributor of LED lighting for the commercial sector. He was also chief financial officer and general manager, commercial, for Glengarry Hancocks.

Samsung New Zealand has appointed Jon Barrell sales director. Mr Barrell has been country manager for Lion Dairy & Drinks for two years. He has previously held senior positions with Goodman Fielder, DB Breweries and Coca-Cola Amatil.

Extreme Networks has promoted regional director Australia and New Zealand James Owens managing director Southern Asia Pacific, with additional responsibilities for Southeast Asia and India. He will remain based in Sydney.