Chairman Steps Down From Business Mentors NZ

Chairman Steps Down From Business Mentors New Zealand

Jeremy Bendall is stepping down as Chairman of Business Mentors New Zealand (Business in the Community) after two years at the helm of the country’s only national business mentoring service aimed at supporting the development and growth of small to medium-sized enterprises.

Mr Bendall, who is giving up the position for personal and family reasons, was previously Deputy Chairman of Business Mentors NZ for three years. He has been actively involved in such events as the Small Business Day series to promote and engage SMEs. Jeremy is also a director of Tennis NZ and supports a number of other not-for-profit organisations. He is a Business Consultant based in Auckland and a former Partner of KPMG’s Corporate Governance and Risk Advisory Service.

Mr Bendall said: `It has been an honour to lead such a successful organisation which is integral to the success of SMEs in this country and our nation’s economic welfare. The late Sir James Fletcher inspired me to get involved through his message that business mentoring for SMEs was crucial to the success of business in New Zealand (96 % of businesses in New Zealand are SMEs) and big business needed to support small business if it wished to protect its supply chain and connect with the community.‘

Acting Chairman Rick Bettle commented: `The Board wishes to thank Jeremy for his contribution to BMNZ. We wish him well in his future endeavours.’

Mr Bettle is a Professional Director. His current Directorships include: Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of NZ and Aviation Security, Chairman of Powerco and a director of Goodman NZ.

He was previously Chairman of the New Zealand TAB, the Racing Industry Board, the New Zealand Lamb Co.; Capital Coast Health; and Wrightson Finance. Rick was the Managing Director of Wrightson 1987-1991; CEO of Alliance Group 1991-1995; and from 1995-1998 headed the Law firm of Kensington Swann.

He is past President of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and was made a Fellow in 2000. He is also a Graduate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

ENDS

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