November 30, 2008

When we were developing the theme for this year’s Top 200 Awards earlier this year we knew that business was in for some difficult times. Be Bold, Be Different was

Reg Garters has decided to retire from New Zealand Institute of Management Southern at the end of this year after working for NZIM for 35 years and leading the group

NZI has been named the country’s Insurer of the Year for the second year in row, at the 2008 industry awards. NZI was selected through an annual survey of insurance

A gold award, the highest accolade from the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation, has been awarded to Vero Insurance New Zealand. Silver awards have been won by executive search company,

The new Government needs to re-think the roles of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the Tertiary Education Commission, according to an NZIM briefing paper.

John Spencer DairyNZ, the industry good organisation for New Zealand’s dairy farmers, has appointed Spencer as an independent director. He replaces Craig Norgate, who resigned from the board in June.

Elections might change Parliaments but they don’t dispose of issues. And there are some whoppers. First, the economy must navigate the flash flood that followed the bursting of the debt

Steve Hart casts an eye over some reputation “issues” struck by New Zealand companies and discusses how to navigate potentially troubled waters.

Our houses are sick. But business and the community stand to make billions from improving them. Some 1.04 million of the country’s 1.6 million homes are not properly insulated. Drafts

The effective decision-maker organises dissent.

When economic pressure increases, training is often viewed as luxury that the organisation can no longer afford. This is hardly surprising, since studies show that 85 percent of the potential

NZ Management magazine’s listing of New Zealand’s largest organisations includes New Zealand subsidiaries and local branches of overseas companies, producer boards, cooperatives, local authority trading enterprises and state-owned enterprises that

Jade is an information technology research and development organisation with 30 years’ experience in supplying software solutions and services around the world. Established in 1978 by Sir Gil Simpson, the

The Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has announced the appointment of New Zealander Rob Steele as its next secretary-general. Steele was the chief executive of Standards New Zealand for

Don Braid has been with freight and logistics company Mainfreight since 1994, after joining the firm as part of the acquisition of Daily Freightways (where he had been for 16

Bold and different – two words that sum up the Designworks 2008 Top 200 Visionary Leader. This extraordinary and often controversial individual was born in Auckland in 1947. He was

Listed company Abano Healthcare Group is the largest private specialist medical and healthcare organisation in the country. The business began life as Eldercare New Zealand with focus on retirement villages

TOP 200 JUDGES Rob Challinor, founder and executive director of boutique investment bankers Northington Partners, is former Deloitte partner and corporate finance adviser. He is currently chairman of Fisher Funds’

New Zealand Post has demonstrated leadership in ethical governance through its commitment to measuring and managing its corporate responsibility. An innovative Corporate Responsibility Governance Model applies across the group providing

Ebos supplies range of medical, surgical, retail, dental and scientific products to the healthcare market in New Zealand and Australia and is one of the leading independent (non multinational) companies

After several years with Deloitte, Jono Brent, qualified chartered accountant, joined Christchurch’s City Care (a construction and maintenance business) in 2003. He began as management accountant for the roading, water

Auckland-based Geoff Ricketts has served on the board of brewer Lion Nathan since 1988 and took over as chairman in 2001. Closely associated with the recent history of the company,

3M New Zealand192 ABB157 ACP Media119 AFFCO Holdings33 AgResearch176 Air New Zealand4 Airways Corporation of New Zealand 193 Alcatel-Lucent New Zealand129 Alliance Group29 Allied Foods (NZ)134 Amcor Packaging (New Zealand)72

Established in 1947, Delegat’s Group is the producer and marketer of the internationally acclaimed Delegat’s and Oyster Bay wines and one of New Zealand’s largest family owned and managed winemakers.

The local and international economy is going through one of the most challenging times in history. Those businesses that ensure they maximise profit will not only survive this period but

New Zealanders delivered an overwhelming message in the election on 8 November that it is time for change – not only change of government but also change of policy, with

Truly effective CEOs can achieve up to 70 percent improvement in the performance of their people. And the key to such success – it’s more about being than doing.

• Ethan S Harris • Harvard Business Press • RRP $44.95 Ben Bernanke – the bookish bloke who replaced the legendary Alan Greenspan as chairman of the US Federal Reserve

Since winning the Young Executive of the Year award in 2007 Mason Pratt has been busy growing his Wellington-based software development company, Provoke Solutions. Leah Haines tells the company’s story.

Election fever is waning but change is still in the air… along with faint hint of financial trepidation. As voters, we’ve spent time debating the merits of change and revision

The future of the New Zealand carbon market was in doubt as NZ Management went to press. There are even suggestions that carbon tax might be back on the table

My company is member of an industry federation and it is our turn to organise the federation’s bienial conference for around 300 to 500 people. I have drawn the short

Cover Story : On The Brink – Poised on the Edge The global economy may be in the midst of giant meltdown but many local companies have yet to feel

Cover Story On The Brink – Poised on the Edge Deloitte/Management magazine Executive of the Year Don Braid Deloitte/Management magazine Company of the Year Delegat’s Group NZIM/Eagle Technology Young Executive

How to best optimise the relations between board and management. A step-by-step guide to evolution.

The global economy may be in the midst of a giant meltdown but many local companies have yet to feel the full financial impact. Latest figures for the country’s biggest businesses show the recession starting to bite but with only one or two quarters of recession included, the worst is yet to come through onto bottom lines. What sectors are likely to be worst affected and what can be done to make the best of the current economic climate?

James Galbraith, son of the late American economist John K Galbraith and noted economist in his own right, was asked by New York Times reporter in October if he found

Nobody knows how the rest of this current economic crisis will play out. Chances are it will get worse before it gets better but, really, we can’t say. What is

Michelle Beckett is executive director of Natural Products New Zealand (NPNZ), the national industry organisation representing companies involved in all areas of the natural products and nutraceuticals sector. How would

Applications are still being sought for the 2009 Leadership Programme which will commence in February 2009. Are you up for the challenge? As leader with potential, you’re invited to be

Resourcing members to help them navigate the current difficult times is the goal for newly appointed NZIM Southern chief executive Kevin Vincent. “How do we NZIM respond in order to

Moving offices can be worrying time for workers – but Westpac has come up with novel way to help calm moving-day jitters and familiarise staff with their pending new premises.

Damage to brand and reputation from information security breaches is top of mind for New Zealand’s information security leaders, according to the 11th Ernst & Young Global Information Security Survey.

The lucky winner of the Nokia E71 mobile phone is Allan Baird, IT manager with the Ashburton Trading Society. Thank you to all who entered – and there were lots

Thinking about the warmth and comfort of the home you now live in, would you say it has caused health problems for those living there, or no health problems? All

Kurt Schwarz QSM, FNZIM, one of the founders of the New Zealand Institute of Management, died recently in Wellington aged 95. Schwarz was born in Vienna in 1913 and arrived

The largest non-government review of governance in New Zealand organisations is currently seeking input for its third annual review. The ‘Directions – Understanding Governance’ survey is led by Jens Mueller,

Ever wondered how TradeMe got its initial funding? new book has been launched to explain to budding entrepreneurs the process of raising funds from angel investors and venture capitalists. Fuel

Effective business leaders must nurture differences in their staff if they want to develop high-performing teams and cut staff turnover, says author and public speaker Allison Mooney. Personality clashes are

Bizzone, one of the country’s fastest growing companies, has major plans for expansion despite the current economic climate. Formerly Sarah Trotman & Associates, business champion Bizzone, ranked 29th on the