YMCA North appoints Julian Baldey to lead into growth

Wednesday, 10 October 2018, 10:34 am
Press Release: YMCA

YMCA North (formerly YMCA Auckland Inc.) has named the former chief operating officer of Medirest New Zealand, Compass Group as its new chief executive officer.

Julian Baldey recently replaced former chief executive Peter Fergusson who stepped down in May to lead the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Foundation. YMCA North outgoing executive chair Andrew Howard has been acting CEO for the interim.

With more than 25 years' experience in food and hospitality services across New Zealand, Australia and the Middle East, Baldey’s strategic planning and business skills will help lead YMCA into a growth phase, says Howard.

“We are expanding our team and services to best cater to our customers. The more successful we are as an organisation, the more we can put back into the community.”

The not for profit organisation reinvests into local communities through its three philanthropic programmes, Raise Up, Family Camp and Fee Assistance.

Howard says Baldey is extremely personable and a forward-thinking leader – invaluable traits for his role at YMCA.

“We work with babies, grandparents and everyone in between, so it was important for us to wait for the right person to take the helm. Julian has impressed us from the get-go and we’ve enjoyed welcoming him into the fold,” says Howard.

Baldey is excited for what lies ahead in his new role.

”I am in awe of the passion of the YMCA team in delivering a world class service to our customers whilst also being able to make great contributions to the community that have a high social impact,” he says.

Committed to strengthening families and youth development, YMCA North is part of a global family but is proudly 100 per cent New Zealand owned and operated.

The YMCA North network comprises centres owned and operated by the organisation, and a number that are managed through partnerships with local government agencies such as Auckland Council.

YMCA is the largest provider of Out of School Care for school-aged children and the largest provider of residential camping facilities including Camp Adair in Hunua and Shakespear Lodge in Whangaparaoa.

The organisation changed its name from YMCA Auckland Inc. to YMCA North at its Annual General Meeting last month to better represent its geographical spread across Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

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