Brent Powell
PlaceMakers newly appointed general manager – business systems, Brent Powell, is Kiwi flown back to the nest. He left Auckland as 12-year-old and returned six years ago as family man with two kids and an English wife. And he’s more than happy to be back. After working in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong he’s enjoying being able to “get things done” which comes with management territory in New Zealand.
“The management process is more focused here and it’s great to get plenty of peer involvement and enthusiasm for achieving things,” he says. “It is personally and professionally very satisfying.”
By and large, New Zealand companies have good understanding of IT and it applications in business, he says. And last, but not least, he enjoys the scope of management life. “People operating in silos is not so prevalent here.”
Powell, who has already moved into his new role, is nationally responsible for PlaceMakers’ IT, supply chain and programme office management. Based in Auckland, he leads 20-strong team and oversees contract team. He has more than 20 years’ experience in IT management roles and has worked in the UK, Hong Kong and New Zealand. Prior to joining PlaceMakers, Brent was general manager – IT, at Pacific Retail Group and has also had roles at Farmers and Marks & Spencer.
Mark Donnelly, David Gunn
Hamilton-based farmer co-operative Livestock Improvement has appointed Donnelly, previously head of software development for Saber Pacific, as solutions design manager within its Computer Services Group. Gunn, previously MINDA product project manager, has been promoted to export development manager with the company’s Innovation Group.
Mark Wilkshire
Wilkshire, previously chief operating officer for credit cards at the Bank of New Zealand, has been promoted to general manager of credit cards. He replaces Pradeep Roy who is to return to National Australia Bank in Melbourne.
Matt Coubrough
Kiwi International Digital Systems (KIDS) has appointed Coubrough as graphics applications developer. Prior to joining KIDS, he worked in London for broadcast companies TC Soho and Metcom Video.
Sharon Buckland
Finance and investment company Hanover Group has appointed Buckland to the newly created position of corporate communications manager. She is fellow and former branch president of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand, and serves on number of industry advisory and mentoring boards.
Iain Fraser
Fraser has been elected to the international role of vice chair of the board of directors of the Project Management Institute (PMI) commencing 2005. He remains as managing director of Project Plus.
Sara Myles
Hudson has promoted Myles to national practice manager – technical services, responsible for sales and marketing, operations, HR and legal recruitment, with teams in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Tony Hood
Hood, an independent consultant working in partnership with DMR Consulting both in New Zealand and Australia, has been appointed to the board of software company Finzsoft Solutions. His career highlights include chief manager systems and services for Westpac Banking Corporation NZ, and CEO and managing director of Databank Systems.
Rob Veal, John East, Graeme Thomas, Pauline Darley
ICT firm DownerCommspec has announced its new management team following its acquisition by Downer Connect last July. Veal has been appointed national SME sales manager; East has been appointed corporate sales manager; Thomas is national service manager, and Darley is the company’s accountant. Ian Hall, founding member, continues to run the business as general manager.
Steve Harris, Ian Reid
Right Management Consultants has appointed two senior consultants to its employment relations team. Harris, who has held senior positions with the NZ Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, joins from his own ER consulting practice. Reid, who has held number of corporate ER roles including ER manager for Tranz Rail’s InterIsland Line, was most recently managing consultant with the Employers and Manufacturers Association.
John Southgate
Flight Centre has appointed Southgate to the newly created position of chief information officer, responsible for the roll out and improvement of technology within Flight Centre New Zealand.