UPFRONT; Managers on the move

New Zealand Management, Jul 1, 2005

Robert Smith

A sense of ownership is one of the main attractions for the new CEO at Paper Plus. Robert Smith, who joins the organisation later this month, says Paper Plus' franchise structure holds great appeal and was a key driver in his decision to join the group.

"I like the fact," he says, "that the people who run the stores have equity in them and responsibility for them." Add to that, what Smith says is Paper Plus' "extremely strong brand" and "lots of opportunity" for future development.

Smith, who shifts over from his role as general manager of Warehouse Stationery, is replacing Garry Donoghue who is retiring after nine years as CEO of the group. First priorities for Smith include meeting the Paper Plus team, getting round the country to meet individual franchisees and digging more deeply into the group's business.

The broader retail sector should hold few surprises. Prior to joining Warehouse Stationery, he was general manager of the Countdown supermarket group and had held senior positions within Foodtown.

When he's not at work, Smith's likely to be skiing, fishing and generally enjoying the outdoors.

Mark Wheeler

Wheeler, managing director of Alto Plastics, is also the new managing director of Vertex Group Holdings, following the successful takeover by Masthead Equities. As managing director of both companies he will assess the potential for merging them to create one of the largest plastics companies in New Zealand.

Scott Thomson

Auckland's the Langham Hotel has appointed Thomson as its new hotel manager. He has 20 years' experience working in New Zealand hotels and was most recently general manager of the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Christchurch.

Tim Cantlon, Grant Webster

Tourism Holdings (THL) has made two senior appointments. Cantlon (left), previously managing director for Eagle Global Logistics, has joined as general manager of the company's comprehensive coaching operations. Webster is the new chief operating officer attractions. He was most recently general manager attractions and support services at SkyCity.

Dudley Enoka

Enoka takes over from Roger Shipp as general manager of Yellow Pages bringing significant commercial and leadership experience. Enoka was most recently general manager - regions with Telecom.

Alister Brown

Brown, managing director of Merck Sharpe & Dohme (NZ) has been appointed president of the American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand. He replaces outgoing president Michael Stanley, chairman of Ernst & Young, who has served a three-year term and is to remain on the board.

Michelle Lawson

Lawson replaces Dianne McAteer as the new general manager of Visique. She was most recently commercial director at media agency Carat New Zealand, and is a previous general manager of PharmacyBrands.

New consultants at Right Management Consultants

Right Management Consultants is expanding its operations in Auckland and Wellington: Andrew Wilson has been appointed national managing principal responsible for all New Zealand consulting services. In Auckland Jacqueline Parisi becomes principal consultant, with Gerri Power and Vicky Teague as senior consultants. Maria Coates and Lana Bright are Wellington-based senior consultants, while Wendy Rowe and Murray McLachlan have been promoted to principal consultants in Right's career transition practice.

Veronica Lobo

Phillips Fox has appointed Lobo as a senior associate in its Auckland office. She joins the commercial law company from an insurance law firm and has expertise in providing indemnity advice and in defending professional indemnity claims.

Joan Withers

Withers, a professional company director serving on the boards of some of New Zealand's leading companies and a previous CEO of The Radio Network, has been appointed CEO of Fairfax New Zealand.

Pieter Burghout

Burghout, currently CEO of the Building Construction Industry Training Organisation, has been appointed as the new CEO of the Registered Master Builders Federation (RMBF), effective 1 September. He replaces retiring CEO Chris Preston who has been appointed to the board of Master Build Services.

Board appointments at NZIM

Two new directors have been appointed to the National Board of the New Zealand Institute of Management. They are Lloyd Davies, executive director of YMCA Tauranga and Diane Knowles, account executive and executive sponsor of the EDS New Zealand Best Shore Programme. Also appointed to the National Board are Gary Sturgess, the new president of NZIM Auckland; John Butterfield the new president of NZIM Central; Murray McPhail, president of NZIM Canterbury, and Robert Janssen, president of NZIM Otago.

Ian Brooks, Delwyn Clark, Heather Douglas

Brooks, an international management consultant, speaker and author; Clark, executive director (research) and professor in strategic management at the University of Waikato Management School; and Douglas, founder and co-director of Home Business New Zealand, join nine other trustees from academic, business and consultancy backgrounds on the Independent Business Foundation board.