Archive

Are we paying lip-service to the diversity debate? Where are our women board members? We talk a lot about diversity but our boardrooms remain for the most part ‘unequal’, dominated by European males mostly 50 plus.

Reminder: nominations close in less than three weeks for this year’s Young Executive of the Year Award. The award gives senior business leaders an opportunity to put forward their most talented executives under 35.

Executive Update Edition 68

Gen-i and enterprise application software company SAP announced a partner agreement earlier this month for the delivery of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) solutions to New Zealand businesses and Government. This is the first strategic mobile management partnership for SAP in the Asia Pacific Region.

A business trip to India, organised by ANZ Bank, has generated new business for several customers who took part.

ANZ took 13 New Zealand businesses, including meat, dairy, wine, fruit and juice exporters, on an eight-day trip to India last month – a key destination for New Zealand businesses looking to expand their export base.

Leading reputation management consultant Noke Kiroyan says it is “perfectly possible although not always easy” to run a business in Indonesia without resorting to corrupt behaviour.

He has issued a call to New Zealand companies to engage more fully with the fast-growing Indonesian economy – a market that Prime Minister John Key identifies, alongside China and India, as one of the “big three” economies vital for New Zealand’s future growth.

New research confirms the importance that NZ business leaders place on reputation, but reveals that many companies need to increase their investment in building and protecting it.

George Adams, the departing MD, of Coca-Cola Amatil, won the Leader of the Year award at this week’s NZ Workplace Health & Safety Awards 2013.

Last week’s World Class New Zealand Awards and the World Class Inspire forums organised by the Kea global network demonstrated the scale-up Kea has achieved over the past 12 months.

The calibre of high-powered Kiwi speakers and award-winners from around the globe was as high as ever but the international buzz around the Kea network that’s making its mark wherever high performing expats are located, is palpable.

Think for moment about the difference between long and short haul flight. If you’re on short haul flight – say Auckland to Wellington – then you don’t really have lot

Our company conducts much of its core business in two of the “hard” areas of human resources; the nature and structure of jobs, and the pay attached to those roles.

Most people on the planet who deal with companies at least once in their lives – and that’s almost all of us – have encountered customer service that’s been less

Geraldine McBride: Information and Communications – sponsored by AUT University

Ceramics, sculptures, drawings, text and film – Waiheke-based artist Denis O’Connor’s multi-dimensional works reach out to collectors around the globe. He is currently engaged in a major project – a documentary on artists in their studio spaces.

Keith Stewart catches up with expat artist Max Gimblett on one of his regular returns home to the New Zealand he is “in love with”.

Annabel Langbein: Creative – sponsored by Wellington City Council

Judith Hanratty CVO OBE: Investment and Business – sponsored by BDO

Dr Doug Cleverly: Life Sciences – sponsored by Ernst & Young

Bill Buckley CNZM: Manufacturing, Design & Innovation – sponsored by Douglas Pharmaceuticals

Rob Fyfe: New Thinking – sponsored by Gen-i

Dr Sean Simpson: Science, Technology and Academia – sponsored by The Royal Society of New Zealand

The domestication of deer in New Zealand has been remarkable achievement. Deer are the first new animals to be domesticated for farming in over 5000 years. Large scale commercial farming

Rising two kilometres from the freezing depths of the Kaikoura canyon, giant sperm whale expels pungent spume of oily mist three metres into the dawn sky above the Whale Watch

Kea Global Network’s World Class New Zealand Awards Kea global ceo Dr Sue Watson: Connecting Kiwis 24 The humble knight: Sir Don McKinnon ONZ GCVO 26 Newspaper man… Anchor in

When our global competitiveness ranking puts us among the also-rans, we can turn for solace to other measures of our economic and social well-being. But not the happiness index –

Directors might consider their primary responsibility is to shareholders. Not so! Boards are equally accountable for workforce health and safety, says the Independent Taskforce Report on Health and Safety. By Reg Birchfield.

June is the Greens’ usual conference month. These days they are more than curiosity. Eighteen months from now Greens might be in cabinet for the first time. That is not

What buzz it is to work on an entire magazine full of inspiring stories about World Class New Zealanders and New Zealand businesses all operating at peak performance in every

The World Class New Zealand Awards are key element in global network Kea’s strategy for creating the most successful and connected expat network in the world. World Class New Zealand

Sarah Stuart catches up with Kea global ceo Dr Sue Watson.

Andrew Holden: Friend of New Zealand – sponsored by ANZ

The Rt Hon Sir Donald McKinnon ONZ GCVO: Supreme Award – sponsored by Air New Zealand

An independent alliance representing rare and exceptional wines from a small group of artisan producers, each committed to upholding the highest standards of sustainable viticulture and winemaking.

The New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA) may join forces. The two Institutes, the custodians of the Chartered Accountant designation in their respective countries, have released details of a proposed new trans-Tasman Institute

Caution is still the watchword for many NZ chief financial officers (CFOs) despite rising levels of confidence. That’s according to Deloitte’s inaugural New Zealand CFO survey which draws on the insights of close to 100 CFOs from a range of locations, industries and business sizes.

Savvy employers could benefit big time from helping employees get the training they want. The latest Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI) shows less than half of New Zealand employees surveyed were happy with the training they get at work. Yet 62 percent of them say they plan to lift their skills.

Executive Update Edition 67

Do we have the skills and talent in place to drive future economic growth? New thinking between the tertiary education sector and business may provide some much-needed help.

Employees continue to trust managers and leaders despite uncertain times, according to the latest L.E.A.D. (Leadership Employment and Direction) Survey. Andrew Henderson, CEO of Leadership Management Australasia (LMA), the organisation behind the annual surveys, says levels of trust have held steady or in some cases strengthen

BusinessNZ chief executive Phil O’Reilly is calling for more action to help young people gain employable skills. Statistics NZ’s just-released March quarter Household Labour Force Survey shows a two percent lift in youth employment. While this is a “positive” result, O’Reilly says it also underscores the “paramount” need for more focus to be put on helping young people gain the skills necessary to gain me

New NZIER research highlights opportunities for New Zealand and US firms to reinvigorate bilateral linkages and work together in third markets. Stephen Jacobi, executive director of the NZ US Council which commissioned the report, says growing partnerships with ot

Clare Ward, currently deputy government statistician at Statistics New Zealand, has been appointed to the position of chief executive of the Families Commission and will take up her new position

Volvo has something of an image problem. Much like the skinny, geeky kid back in school who hit the gym to shape his body and hit university to shape his

New Zealand is wonderful country. We are fair minded and embrace multicultural society, doing pretty well at it for the most part. We’ve led the way on gay marriage, you

New Zealand is wonderful country. We are fair minded and embrace multicultural society, doing pretty well at it for the most part. We’ve led the way on gay marriage, you

By Colin Mayer • Oxford • RRP $44.99

By Ian Hunter • Hunter Publishing • RRP $34.99

NZ Management magazine spoke to Marcus Child, presenter at a recent TEC event in Auckland. Child is a professional presenter and leadership trainer with an impressive international reputation in leadership development and transforming corporate cultures.

Jon Mayson has slipped seamlessly from successful chief executive to chairman of several boards. But he’s disappointed with the governance practices he’s found in many boardrooms. He talks to Reg Birchfield.

Why should our business leaders be concerned about education and training prospects for young Maori?

In March we saw Government back away from Revenue Minister Peter Dunne’s proposal to introduce tax on inner city car parks and work smartphones, laptops and tablets. Outrage amongst business

From Auckland’s unitary plan, to transport, working capital, energy pricing and water, EMA chief executive Kim Campbell harnesses his forensic interest in business to advocate for positive policies for New Zealand organisations. He talks with Ruth Le Pla.

From time-to-time women in the executive leadership league win battle. But, notables like Facebook chief executive Sheryl Sandberg notwithstanding, they sure as hell aren’t winning the war. In fact, couple

ASX-listed private health insurer nib holdings has named Alan Clarke as chairman of Tower Medical Insurance, the business it acquired from Tower last year. Clarke is managing director and chief

Jon Mayson has slipped seamlessly from successful chief executive to chairman of several boards. But he’s disappointed with the governance practices he’s found in many boardrooms. He talks to Reg Birchfield.

ASX-listed private health insurer nib holdings has named Alan Clarke as chairman of Tower Medical Insurance, the business it acquired from Tower last year. Clarke is managing director and chief

An initial public offering or IPO is company’s “coming out party” – it involves private companies offering their shares to the public for the first time. Recently we have seen

An initial public offering or IPO is company’s “coming out party” – it involves private companies offering their shares to the public for the first time. Recently we have seen

The first university in the English-speaking world was the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1167. It received its first international student in 1190. We’ve come long way since

Hamish McConnochie is a public policy and media studies student at Victoria University, Wellington

26 Cover Story:Is NZ future-ready? Do we have the skills and talent in place to drive future economic growth? New thinking between the tertiary education sector and business may provide

China was good place for Weta Workshops founder Sir Richard Taylor to applaud John Key’s Government for helping his industry. Since 1949, under China’s socialist political and economic system, the

I’m not alone in wondering when debates around our national security and the powers of the state relative to the rights and freedoms of individuals got to be so bizarre

Emirates has allocated US$150,000 to support environmental or conservation projects in an initiative called ‘A Greener Tomorrow’. The funding opportunity is open to any established not-for-profit environmental or conservation organisation

Dear editor I just finished reading your article on Mega (see “Mega trouble or Mega opportunity?”, NZ Management, April 2013) which I enjoyed and while acknowledging your position I found

The New Zealand Institute of Management (NZIM) provides link for local members with their peers in 18 Asia Pacific countries through the Asian Association of Management Organisations (AAMO). NZIM CEO,

Remote working can boost revenue, and New Zealand companies benefit more than their Australian counterparts. New research by New Zealand’s largest accounting software provider, MYOB, reveals almost half the country’s

Philanthropy is big business but some questionable management and even complaints of fraud are affecting the reputation of the whole sector. Philanthropist Dame Rosanne Meo is urging those involved in

What practical steps can New Zealand take to lay the foundation for technology-driven success? That was the question posed – and partially answered – at April’s MindStorm conference. The Auckland

A line-up of world-class business talent will ignite audiences hungry for inspiration when they present their stories in Auckland in May. Entrepreneurs of all stripes are invited to Inspire Auckland,

The case for greater diversity at every organisational level is gaining traction. Reg Birchfield reports on what the New Zealand Institute of Management is doing to build awareness of diversity’s many advantages.

This month Bill English produces his last budget before the one which is supposed to have plus sign in front of the balance. Can he do it? What is the

It might not sound as exciting as the next i-phone but energy efficiency may yet turn out to be killer app for business. Energy efficiency has the potential to become

65 The paradox of IPOs 66The path less travelled … the diversity ‘way forward’ 62Jon Mayson:Outspoken and unbowed

Over a fifth of people who own a mobile phone confess to “showrooming” or visiting a store to examine a product with the intention of buying it elsewhere, according to TNS’ Mobile Life study 2013.

Students, managers, entrepreneurs and artists under the age of 35 have until July 1 to submit their entries for this year’s Drucker Challenge. At stake is a free ticket to the annual Global Peter Drucker Forum in Vienna on November 14 and 15.

Executive Update Edition 66

Food production and consumption could be easy targets for reducing how much of our resources we use in New Zealand. A newly-released New Zealand Footprint Project report attributes 56 percent of the country’s resource use to the way we produce, distribute and consume our food and beverages.

New Zealanders almost doubled the amount of mobile data they used in 2012, says Telecommunications Commissioner Dr Stephen Gale, as we continue to hike our use of smartphones and other mobile devices. This is the second year in a row we’ve doubled mobile data usage.

Randstad NZ boss Paul Robinson is calling for NZ companies to keep up with the rest of the world in moving women into senior positions and ensuring gender balance across industry sectors.

Employers undervalue the significance of providing emotional support to their employees: especially during restructuring. This, and other findings, stems from a recent Choice Career Services global survey of career transition professionals in 15 OECD countries to determine universal trends in outplacement.

Interesting job content, a competitive salary and employee benefits make media the most desired industry to work in, according to the latest annual Randstad Award employer branding research.

Global marketing communications company JWT outlines the future of mobile connectivity in its new report “13 Mobile Trends for 2013”. The report draws on insights gleaned at the GSMA’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year.

Entries have opened for the 2013 American Chamber of Commerce – DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards. Companies trading with the United States are invited to enter. The awards celebrate business achievement between New Zealand and its third largest trading partner, the United States.

Just five percent of companies with an anti-bullying policy have one that actually works. New research from the US-based Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) shows that seven out of ten people who are bullied lose their job for no other reason than being picked on. WBI’s 2012 Strategies Effectiveness Survey shows that 28 percent of people tar

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and the Institute of Directors in New Zealand (IoD) have released a free downloadable guide to corporate governance for current and aspiring directors. ‘A Director’s Guide’ sets out the essentials of being an effective director. It outlines some of the essential behaviours directors should demonstrate to meet legal, regulatory and ethical standards, and references other

Executive Update Edition 65

Confidence in the world economy has increased significantly over the past three months, according to experts polled by the World Economic Forum. The Forum’s Economic Confidence Index rose to 0.48 from 0.43 on a scale of 0 to 1 during the first three months of the year. The results come amid an easing of the Eurozone crisis and suggest a belief that the world

Demand for labour in both Auckland and Wellington continues to climb. Ads for jobs rose by 0.3 percent in Auckland and 1.8 percent in Wellington in March. Those in Canterbury dipped slightly by -0.7 percent. Auckland has seen considerable growth in new jobs ads over the past three months, with a rise of 7.5 percent since December 2012. The numb

Hot off the press… from yesterday’s inaugural Mindstorm conference at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.

The EEO Trust has long argued that business leaders can gain significant benefits by adapting their workplace practices to the needs and expectations of an older workforce. Now the trust is gearing up its focus on older workers through a series of practical workshops in Auckland and Wellington next month.

Murray Wu is general manager, corporate responsibility at Kiwibank.

• John Kotter • RRP $42.99 • Harvard Business Review Press Leadership guru John P Kotter wrote his original version of Leading Change back in 1996. It became best seller.

• By Sheryl Sandberg • W H Allen • RRP $36.99 Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and former vice president of global online sales and development at Google, is eighth on

Cyber threats and their associated data privacy issues pose multimillion-dollar risks for New Zealand enterprise. But, Reg Birchfield reports, neither local business nor some insurance providers and brokers are properly prepared for both the dangers and the demands presented by this global phenomenon.

Richard Reese, general man­ager – Operations, BankLink

Phishing is form of online fraud which attempts to trick users into divulging personal information such as usernames, passwords and banking details. This type of fraud is conducted through the