Gillian Wratt
There are probably not many CEOs in New Zealand who can claim to have paid more than 40 visits to one of this country’s most farflung outposts – Antarctica. But for Gillian Wratt, who takes over next month as CEO of the Cawthron Institute, trips to the Southern Ocean were an integral part of her career path.
As well as holding management roles at the former DSIR, Crop & Food Research Institute, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wratt spent 10 years managing New Zealand’s Antarctic Programme as CEO of the NZ Antarctic Institute.
Her most recent role was with the Ministry of Environment as lead environmental negotiator for NZ Free Trade and Closer Economic Partnership Agreements. She is leaving Wellington to take up her new role with the independent, not-for-profit research centre which is based in Nelson.
Chris Doak
Doak takes over as chief executive of Hamilton International Airport this month. He replaces Hugh McCarroll who is retiring after completing his contract. Doak has spent the past nine years at WEL Networks, most recently as general manager growth and development.
Graeme Milne
This month will see Stuart Gordon resigning as CEO of Livestock Improvement, role he’s held for seven years. Former NZ Dairy Group CEO Graeme Milne will take over as acting CEO until permanent replacement is appointed.
Jan Dawson
Dawson, Auckland managing partner of KPMG, is to succeed Alan Isaac as the organisation’s new chairman. Her appointment will be effective from 1 April on Isaac’s retirement. Dawson has been with KPMG since 1981 and has held various management roles including national risk manager, Auckland and Wellington board chair and member of the National Financial Services Committee.
Don Elder, Mary Quin
ASB has appointed Elder and Quin as directors on the ASB Bank and ASB Group (Life) boards. Elder, chief executive of Solid Energy NZ since 2000, has served on numerous boards and several Ministerial advisory committees. He is currently director of Orion New Zealand. New Zealand-born Quin has strong background in compliance and governance. She runs consulting firm in Alaska specialising in management and governance services.
Lynn Harden
Black Diamond Technology (BDT) has appointed Harden as general manager, electronics division. Most recently senior business analyst with Asia Online Australia, Harden has previously spent 10 years with Melco New Zealand (now BDT) in number of management positions.
Peter Brown
Brown, Vero Insurance NZ’s manager, actuarial and business intelligence, was elected president of the New Zealand Society of Actuaries in December. Retiring president Ric Geisler remains on the council as immediate past president.
Michele Teague, Eva Knox
Teague joins Restaurant Brands as general manager of marketing early this month. She has spent the past two years as global marketing manager for Air New Zealand. Knox became KFC marketing manager in January. She held similar role at Cadbury Confectionery for the past five years.
Shuming Zhao
Zhao, dean of the Nanjing University Business School and dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Macao University of Science and Technology in China, has been appointed adjunct professor in business at AUT University.
Steve Parker
Parker has been appointed as Unisys’ new managing director for Australia and New Zealand. He joins from Hewlett-Packard where his most recent role was director, enterprise sales. In New Zealand, the southern and northern region managers will report to Parker.
Chris Griffin
Griffin is the new general manager marketing for regional tourism organisation Christchurch & Canterbury Marketing. He was previously the Australia/domestic marketing manager for the organisation. Griffin replaces Jason Hill who is now regional manager Japan with Tourism New Zealand.
Jenny Cameron, Marcus Keenan
Cameron has joined Heritage Hotel Management as director of human resources. She has held similar roles with DHL New Zealand, Hyatt and most recently Stamford Auckland. Keenan replaces Graeme Back – now at Fiji’s Treasure Island – as the new general manager of Park Heritage Rotorua. He has managed hotel properties in the UK for the past three years.
