PwC CEO takes top job in the Middle East

22 May 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PwC CEO takes top job in the Middle East

PricewaterhouseCoopers Chief Executive Officer Warwick Hunt is to leave New Zealand later this year to take up a senior role with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Middle East, PwC New Zealand Chairman John Shewan has announced.

Mr Hunt will take up the role of CEO of the Middle East Region of PwC, based in Dubai, in November. Mr Shewan says the appointment is testimony to the regard in which Warwick Hunt is held both here and overseas.

“Warwick’s appointment is not at all unexpected, given his strong leadership skills and the tremendous achievements the New Zealand firm has made over recent years,” he says. “Warwick has been a successful and committed leader of PwC in New Zealand, and has led a period of huge expansion with the addition of 63 new partners and strong growth across the business. It is sad to see him go, but also very pleasing to see his achievements recognised. We look forward to keeping in close touch with him.”

Mr Shewan says Mr Hunt will remain in his role as CEO in New Zealand until October, to allow the election of a new CEO by PwC partners. “The new CEO will be elected by and from the pool of almost 120 partners across New Zealand, at the end of September. In the meantime, it’s very much business as usual.”

Mr Hunt’s new role will head 2,500 people in 17 countries across the Middle East region. He joined the firm as an audit partner in 1995, and has worked closely with New Zealand’s top business leaders and regulators across a breadth of industries. In addition to his role as CEO, he led the firm’s assurance practice for two years, and was the chair of the Accounting Standards Review Board between 2003 and 2008.

Commenting on his decision Mr Hunt says: “My time with PwC New Zealand has been very challenging and rewarding, and it is with tremendous regret that I leave the New Zealand team of PwC staff and partners behind. However after 15 years with the firm – five of those as CEO - I believe it is time for me to move on and tackle a new challenge. PricewaterhouseCoopers is now by far the largest professional services firm in New Zealand, and I am leaving it in very competent hands, with an expanded pool of partners, an experienced senior management team, a fantastic client base and a very strong brand.”

PwC in New Zealand has 1,400 people across seven offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Mr Hunt will replace PwC partner Mike Stevenson in the Middle East. Mike Stevenson, originally from the UK, will step down from his role at the end of September, and will continue as chairman of the PwC Middle East Board.

ENDS

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