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Mainfreight group managing director Don Braid is back. He was the Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Executive of the Year in 2008.

Executive Update Edition 34

This year’s Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Awards judges have wrestled with the figures, debated the pros and cons, and picked the winners during a couple of rigorous sessions at Deloitte’s downtown Auckland offices.

Too many of our manufacturers fall over unnecessarily, according to this year’s NZIM/Eagle Technology Young Executive of the Year, Hamish McBeath.

Never being afraid to make hard calls around governance leadership has won Wayne Boyd this year’s QBE Insurance Chairperson of the Year Award.

Welcome to this special issue of Executive Update: a comprehensive summary of the top stories behind this year’s Deloitte/Management magazine Top200 Awards.

This year’s Deloitte/Management magazine Top200 list of companies contains seeds of optimism about the future direction of New Zealand’s largest enterprises.

It was another tough year for organisations in many sectors. The earthquakes in Christchurch and the Rugby World Cup challenged and rewarded. Consumers remained hesitant to spend but at least our primary producers had good times, reeling in the rewards of high commodity prices across the globe.

• By Rick Wartzman • McGrawHill • RRP $44.99 At its core, management “deals with people, their values, their growth and development – and this makes it humanity,” Peter Drucker,

Top200 Thinking Seeds of optimism about the future direction of New Zealand’s largest enterprises lie hidden among the figures in this year’s Deloitte/Management magazine Top200 list of companies. Reg Birchfield

NZ Management magazine’s listing of New Zealand’s largest organisations includes  publicly listed companies and larger unlisted companies required to disclose audited financial statements, including New Zealand subsidiaries and branches of

What difference year makes. At the time of last year’s Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Awards the world and New Zealand were emerging cautiously from the aftermath of the GFC. Growth

The lessons of Mainfreight are many fold. That it should be chosen as the Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Company of the year could not be more appropriate. There are lessons

Mainfreight group managing director Don Braid is back. He was the Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Executive of the Year in 2008. repeat performance doesn’t happen often. But then, executives of

Lloyd Morrison has been visionary across many fields of interest for many years. He is passionate New Zealander and champion of the interests of the country. He saved the New

A political spat was triggered earlier this year over the wage gap between New Zealand and Australia: was it shrinking or growing? Before the 2008 general election, it was recalled

I can’t think of better time to be back on Management magazine. Just over four years ago I stepped down as editor of the magazine. My thinking, such as it

According to NIWA’s latest climate outlook, New Zealand is on track for another scorching summer. But while good news for holidaymakers, the heat and dry weather can pose productivity issues

Sponsored by The University of Auckland Business School Short Courses www.shortcourses.ac.nz 0800 800 875

Lotteries Commission CEO Todd McLeay has racked up stints at both Vodafone and NZ Post. Now, as he prepares to take on a new role at APN News & Media, he talks with Nick Grant about what he’s learnt in these very different organisations.

On current projections, Asia is set to soon inherit the mantle of economic global leadership. So is there such a thing as Asian values, as some would contend, or simply universal values? Korean leader Chung Min Lee addresses young Asian leaders.

A local study says Kiwi expats might be the key to addressing New Zealand’s lack of investment capital. Kea New Zealand recently conducted survey that reveals many overseas-based Kiwis are

New Zealanders won’t tolerate privacy breaches no matter the circumstances, according to recent Unisys Security Index study. The study, conducted by Consumerlink, showed that 80 percent of Kiwis surveyed would

The All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup win is just the ticket out of the doldrums for many companies. So says Amanda Jongeneel, London-based specialist whose company Jongeneel & Associates focuses

Who ‘owns’ LinkedIn data when an employee departs the company? According to two specialists at Kensington Swan, this question has not yet reached the courts in New Zealand but there

Looking for ways to help young Pacific employees make the most of their talents? There are plenty of ideas in the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust’s latest research report, Specifically Pacific:

Investing in young people early is no-brainer, according to Foundation for Youth Development (FYD) co-founder Graeme Dingle. This is view shared by key sponsor, Deloitte, who has supported FYD from

Such is Vodafone’s corporate commitment to responsible governance that it has been finalist in the Kensington Swan Responsible Governance Award and its predecessor category six times since 2001. It finally

Some interesting leadership research by global business consultancy Hay Group crossed my desk recently. It underpins what seems glaringly obvious but which is not gaining rapid traction – specifically, leaders

Stephen Dee has lived outside NZ for 24 of the last 30 years. For much of his career he has worked in the live entertainment industry, having run opera companies,

Outdoor clothing and travel equipment retailer Kathmandu first appeared on the Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 horizon in 2002. Its potential was recognised when it won place as finalist in the

Hamish McBeath has vision for New Zealand manufacturing. “The country needs to re-embrace and re-build its manufacturing industries for number of sound economic reasons,” he says. “Too many of our

Year’s end is in sight. The New Zealand Institute of Management is a learning institution and this is report card time.

John Key took office three years ago amid global financial and economic mayhem. Then came earthquakes in Christchurch, mine disaster and ship grounding causing widespread environmental damage. Another such concatenation

When it comes to reviewing company performance after tricky but successful corporate manoeuvre, it’s often difficult to identify who made the greatest contribution – the board collective, the chairman or

A law and politics student at Canterbury University, Sam Johnson rose to prominence as the organiser of the Student Volunteer Army in the immediate aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes of September 2010 and February 2011.

TOP 200 Janine Smith is principal of The Boardroom Practice and professional company director in both the public and private sector. She is currently chair of AsureQuality, chair of McLarens

The issue of succession planning is vexed and complex. There is rarely an easy fix for any company.

DECEMBER 2011 • Vol 58 No 11

Seeds of optimism about the future direction of New Zealand’s largest enterprises lie hidden among the figures in this year’s Deloitte/Management magazine Top200 list of companies.

Ryman Healthcare turned in stunning performance in 2011 – proving yet again the potency and consistency of its business growth strategy. Last year Ryman was finalist in the Top 200

Raising governance standards and the reputation of directors are the key drivers for Ralph Chivers in his new role as CEO of the Institute of Directors.

It is, to paraphrase Kermit the frog, not easy being a director. Ron Scott, author of the recently published book, The New Director, explains why.

Choosing a chief executive is a board’s single, most important task. The choice can make or break the enterprise. And new global leadership competency trends are making the selection of the best person for the job harder for Australasian boards. Reg Birchfield talked to Signe Spencer, a senior principal at Hay Group’s McClelland Centre for Research and Innovation, and Nicholas Conigrave, associate director of Hay Group Pacific about some of their recent research findings.

Choosing a chief executive is a board’s single, most important task. The choice can make or break the enterprise. And new global leadership competency trends are making the selection of the best person for the job harder for Australasian boards. Reg Birchfield talked to Signe Spencer, a senior principal at Hay Group’s McClelland Centre for Research and Innovation, and Nicholas Conigrave, associate director of Hay Group Pacific about some of their recent research findings.

New Zealand’s SMEs are this country’s greatest potential economic resource. To grow, they need to accept the advice and support of knowledgeable and experienced board members.

Executive Update Edition 33

Massey University ecentre chief Steve Corbett says a government decision to enable business incubators to offer $50,000 grants to young technology companies is perfect timing.

Companies are focused on developing new products and services in an endeavour to survive difficult economic times, according to Newport Consulting’s annual business survey of 242 New Zealand and Australian business leaders.

A new investor report highlights bribery and corruption risk across ASX200. ‘Anti-corruption and Bribery Practices in Corporate Australia: A review of the S&P/ASX200’ was commissioned by ACSI and produced by CAER (Corporate Analysis Enhanced Responsibility).

It looks like we should dust off the downside scenario in the recently published Pre-election Fiscal and Economic Update (Prefu), now the fate of the European debt deal struck only last week has become subject to the endorsement of Greek voters at a referendum.

Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Awards judges have been in lockdown picking this year’s finalists and winners… Whatever happens next in Greece, our economist Bob Edlin warns it’s not likely to be pretty for New Zealand…

Sir Paul Callaghan throws his weight behind a bright technology future for NZ at the latest TIN100 launch… New initiative to boost business incubators wins plaudits…

Just over a quarter (28.8%) of New Zealand hiring managers say they can now find the right person for the job within two to four weeks of starting to look.

The New Zealand Institute has just updated its NZahead report card. Overall, the Institute says New Zealand’s performance is still average. We get a C grade.

Dinosaurs hung over guests’ heads at the TIN100 launch in Auckland’s Auckland War Memorial Museum. But there’s nothing outdated about this year’s TIN100 companies which collectively brought in $7 billion worth of revenue last year: a 5% hike on the previous 12 months.

Glidepath’s Sir Ken Stevens and electronics entrepreneur Sir Peter Maire are heading up a New Zealand trade mission to Malaysia and Brunei in March next year.

Raelene Castle is chief executive of Netball New Zealand. She received an Emerging Leaders Award at this year’s Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards.

• 7 Essentials to Achieve Exponential Growth • By David G Thomson • Wiley • RRP $46.99 How to get New Zealand companies to grow is an age-old conundrum for

• By Marilyn Waring and Kate Kearins • AUT Media • RRP $39.99 If you have ever dreamed of “going back and doing doctorate” this just may be the book

Cover Story Super sizing Auckland – NZ’s biggest corporate transformation The size of the task is enormous, the scrutiny intense – so, one year in, how does Auckland Council CEO

The size of the task is enormous, the scrutiny intense – so, one year in, how does Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay rate his progress on the biggest corporate transformation in New Zealand’s history? Vicki Jayne asks.

Economic and political commentators paid plenty of attention to the credit rating downgrades announced by Fitch and Standard and Poor’s late in September. The implications for interest rates and New

As the Rugby World Cup campaign draws to close there’s much reflecting on the good, and not so good outcomes. It gave us an excuse to party and boy could

Hayley Barnett looks at how business and academia can work together more effectively. Both academics and business leaders say maintaining an equal partnership is the key to New Zealand’s long-term success.

The ongoing effects of the global economic downturn might mean people aren’t leaving their posts at the moment – but it doesn’t mean they don’t want to. A survey of

Some business truths are immutable. One such truth, according to American management guru and growth champion David G Thomson, is that sales, more than any other single factor, define growth businesses. And growth businesses are good for us. America’s growth guru was in Auckland recently and talked with Reg Birchfield.

Asia is carving out for itself an independent and very pragmatic sphere of influence in international environmental regulation and trade in renewable technologies. What does that mean for New Zealand?

Global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company has taken another bite at trying to answer the old problem of what exactly it is that women want. In this case, its

Transformational leadership is the common quality displayed by finalists for New Zealand’s top professional accountant title in the 2011 New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants Leadership Awards. Independent director Jan

Research by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency (EECA) has found that switching to energy efficient lighting is one of the best returns on investment available for businesses looking to

Travelling executives who find themselves jet-lagged in an unfamiliar city half way around the globe can now call on the assistance of PA at the touch of button. TravelSim, company

A $50,000 annual scholarship set up to foster the next generation of women leaders is calling for applications for its 2012 scholarship. The Yvonne Smith Charitable Trust awards one scholarship

This year’s trying times have unearthed strong talent in the latest Communicator of the Year awards. The College of Fellows of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) has named Christchurch Mayor Bob

It’s election month. Politicians beckon. But before spending your precious decision-making time on any individual or ideological consideration, ask yourself one question: who do you trust and why? Trust, you

Jonty Kelt, a member of Kea North America, is co-founder and CEO of Group Commerce.

It’s great to be part of something. It’s even better to be involved with group of likeminded people discussing the state of the world in 40 years’ time, looking at

The NZIM/Eagle Technology Young Executive of the Year will be named at this month’s Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Awards. The award is in its 16th year and Reg Birchfield explains why NZIM believes it is important to New Zealand management and leadership.

Public sector managers can expect faster and more far-reaching change if National gets second term on November 26. This could be the biggest reshaping since the radical 1980s’ reforms. One

Explaining what cooperative is has become second nature to me during the past 12 months. Surprisingly, it seems many New Zealanders, particularly in the business world, have an antiquated view

Explaining what cooperative is has become second nature to me during the past 12 months. Surprisingly, it seems many New Zealanders, particularly in the business world, have an antiquated view

Prime Minister of New Zealand

We all aspire to be great leaders. When we look at leaders, we admire one quality. That quality is the ability to inspire people. How do they do this? Is

Pure Advantage campaign manager Duncan Stewart says New Zealand has now largely acknowledged that we may not live up to our 100% Pure image.

Three days before the big Rugby World Cup final game, Stanford University’s Professor George Foster has told an Auckland University MBA breakfast audience the All Blacks could get better value from their brand.

Demand for energy in Asia will almost double in the next 25 years, according to Dr Tsutomu Toichi, senior managing director and chief knowledge officer at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ).

Executive Update Edition 32

In a week when much else turned to environmental custard, media darling LanzaTech continues to pump out the good news.

McKinsey’s latest, and sixth, global survey of execs shows more of them are now managing sustainability to improve processes, chase growth and add value rather than relying on reputation alone.

More companies should link environmental, social and governance issues into their business models – and act on them.

Almost two weeks after the MV Rena ran aground at Astrolabe Reef, Prime Minister John Key met Tauranga businesses while his Government was deciding whether to put together a financial package to help those affected by the oil spill. Executive Update‘s economic correspondent Bob Edlin reports.

The MV Rena oil disaster off the Bay of Plenty coast does not yet pose a threat to New Zealand’s clean green image, according to brand expert Professor Malcolm Wright.

Legal liability for the MV Rena oil spill will “almost certainly” extend beyond the “token sum” charges laid so far under the Maritime Transport Act (MTA), according to Vernon Rive, a senior lecturer in law at AUT Law School, AUT University.

Massey University’s professor Malcolm Wright argues the spill may not spell disaster for our national clean green brand – yet… Pure Advantage steps up its push for green economic growth… The RMA, rather than the MTA, looks like the best bet for oil spill compensation… McKinsey sustainability survey shows improvements…

The prize for the year’s most innovative fundraising event goes to the Ronald McDonald House Auckland Trust’s which, with the support of Auckland Downtown Rotary, is staging a gala dinner in Auckland’s Victoria Park Tunnel just before the official opening.

Executive Update Edition 31

After a brief rebound, the global economy is back on its heels again and the developed world’s global output in the medium term won’t be better than anaemic. But businesses and managers must not stop their quest for growth even in gloomy times, says McKinsey & Company, which has some advice on how to achieve this.

Meanwhile a survey of New Zealand employees shows that nearly a third cite acknowledgement and appreciation as their key motivator in the workplace, with a lowly 11.8% rating money as their first priority.

The number of employers planning to increase staffing numbers by the end of the year has edged up slightly, according to Hudson New Zealand’s latest quarterly Employment Expectations Survey.

Since Muhtar Kent took the helm of Coca-Cola, in July 2008, he has set a course for ambitious, long-term growth with the goal of doubling revenue by 2020. How is he planning to achieve that?

Consumers have always resold large, durable goods like cars and houses. But now almost anything is ripe for resale, from electronics to clothes, and even experiences.