8 July 2005

Jenny Brown, a former Client Manager for Scottish Enterprise, has been appointed Business Development Analyst for Hawke's Bay Inc, the regional organisation responsible for developing and promoting Hawke's Bay as a place to visit, live and invest.

"We are delighted to have Jenny onboard. She brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise, particularly best practice models used by the progressive economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise." said Murray Nash, CEO of Hawke's Bay Inc.. "Jenny will be working alongside John-Austin Smith, Business Development Manager".

Murray Nash also said, "With John and Jenny we have succeeded in establishing a first rate team to assist local businesses improve their capabilities."

The Business Development Unit will assist companies by gaining a deep understanding of each business they work with, and assist them to identify and address gaps. Assistance could take a range of forms, including strategy development, education, advisory, industry networking, mentoring, recruitment or accessing Government grants and other sources of funds. The Business Development Unit will focus most of its resources on local businesses with significant growth potential, though they will also be available to assist all businesses with issues.

Over the next few months, The Business Development Unit will be raising its profile in the business community and building awareness in the services they offer.

Looking for adventure and a better quality of life, Jenny and husband Alan relocated to Hawke's Bay in May, having decided to move to New Zealand only eight months earlier.

In October 2004 the couple met the Napier City Council's Economic Development Unit, at 'The Opportunities New Zealand Expo' held in London. This led to Alan accepting a position with an accounting firm in Hastings. For Jenny contacts made at the expo and the website www.hawkesbaynz.com, which features a tourism site and an economic development site, were key tools in securing her current position.

Jenny worked for Scottish Enterprise for four years within the Business Development team. She was involved with a portfolio of companies in a variety of sectors similar to Hawke's Bay, such as tourism, food, engineering, and information technology.

The newly created executive position of Head of Marketing for Hawke's Bay Inc. has recently been advertised in the regional and key national papers. The position will be responsible for marketing the region to tourists, people wanting to live and work in Hawke's Bay and businesses open to relocating or investing in the region.

ENDS

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