Executive appointments

Insurance broker Willis New Zealand has appointed Steve Varney to its Auckland Risk Solutions practice as an account director. Mr Varney was previously with Marsh where he had a senior role in its middle market practice. He has over 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry.

Kimberley Adams and Michelle Kean have joined the Auckland Broking New Zealand practice. Ms Adams was previously with Apex General and has eight years’ experience while Ms Kean joined the Auckland Broking New Zealand practice from Aon. Ms Kean has over 15 years’ experience in the insurance industry. Josh Thomson has returned to New Zealand after a number of years working in Brisbane to join the Christchurch Risk Solutions practice. Alice Webster has also joined the Christchurch Risk Solutions practice and has over five years’ insurance broking experience.

David Reesor has joined the Wellington Financial, Executive and Professional Risks Practice from Marsh. He has over seven years’ experience in the New Zealand and US insurance markets Brandon Hensley has been appointed to the Christchurch Broking New Zealand practice, bringing over 10 years’ experience with NZI Insurance. Alan Campbell has been appointed to the Auckland People Risk Insurance Team. He is an authorised financial adviser, with over 20 years’ experience in personal and small business Insurance Risk Solutions.

Intel has promoted Kate Burleigh to general manager for Australia and New Zealand. Ms Burleigh, who was previously national marketing and reseller channel organisation manager Australia and New Zealand, replaces Philip Cronin, who has been promoted to director of regional sales and business development for Asia-Pacific. Ms Burleigh has been with Intel for 15 years, joining as a public relations manager before assuming a variety of marketing management roles. Mr Cronin, who joined Intel in 1997 and became general manager in 2004, is an adviser to the NSW Industry IT Advisory Panel and chairman of the Australian Information Industry Association.

Michael Vukcevic has been appointed chief executive at Baldwins Intellectual Property. Mr Vukcevic was previously chief executive for a transtasman clinical research organisation. Before this, Mr Vukcevic worked at Ernst & Young where he was executive director business development. He has held executive roles with Fonterra and in the information technology, telecommunications and recruitment industries. He is the chairman of the New Zealand Middle East Business Council, and a director of Transparency International (NZ).

Dr Annie Weir has been appointed director of Impact Research. Dr Weir has a PhD in education from Victoria University of Wellington. She has extensive experience in senior management in education in New Zealand. She recently returned from Scotland where she was a research fellow at the Centre for Educational Sociology and Healthcare Management Research Fellow with the Business School at the University of Edinburgh. 

Public relations agency JML Communications has appointed Desmond Nash account manager.
 He joins JML after time with Auckland PR agencies, Porter Novelli and Acumen Republic.

Sir David Carruthers has been appointed chairman of the Independent Police Conduct Authority. Sir David replaces Justice Lowell Goddard, whose term has ended. Sir David is a former chief district court judge and former principal youth court judge.

Dell has appointed Mark Ryan to head its Dell KACE channel programme for Australia and New Zealand. Mr Ryan is an industry veteran with more than 10 years’ experience in senior management positions at Hewlett Packard and Triforce Australia.

IAG New Zealand chief executive Jacki Johnson has been elected president of the Insurance Council of NZ for 2012/13. FMG chief executive Chris Black has been elected vice-president.