BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly resignation

19 May 2015

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly resignation

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly today announced he will resign from his role at the end of 2015.

“I have led BusinessNZ for ten years through a period of rapid growth and incredible change. BusinessNZ is now highly respected nationally and globally and it is timely for a new leader to continue the work,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“I intend to continue my international responsibilities as chair of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC) and member of the Governing Body of the ILO until the conclusion of my respective terms in mid-2017.

“I have given a long period of notice because I believe it would not be appropriate as leader of an organisation representing most businesses in New Zealand to do other than announce my resignation openly so everyone is fully aware of my intentions. I am also looking forward during my resignation period to helping the BusinessNZ Council in their search for a new chief executive.

“Over the next few months I will look forward to discussing future business and career options with a variety of people. I have no concrete plans for what might happen next, although I will investigate taking on a small number of directorships and engaging in consulting work in New Zealand and internationally.

“I am on a number of boards and advisory groups in New Zealand and in the next few months will be talking to each of them to assess my future role.

“A decade is long enough and I have enjoyed every day of it. It has been an inspiration to support business success in New Zealand and I look forward to ongoing engagement with friends and colleagues. I will remain based in New Zealand and look forward to continuing contributing to New Zealand’s success in some different way in the future.”

BusinessNZ President Laurie Margrain said Mr O’Reilly had given outstanding service to the business and wider community and the organisation was sorry to lose his contribution.

“This is a challenging role requiring enormous commitment on behalf of the business community and a high degree of involvement with Central and Local Government. We will use the time available to us to ensure we secure an appointment that will build on the achievements of Phil and his team. We do, in every sense, wish him well in future endeavours and feel sure that there will remain significant areas of business policy where a degree of future association will be beneficial,” Mr Margrain said.

The search for a new Chief Executive will begin immediately.

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