Abano Announces Richard Keys as New Chief Executive Officer

Abano Announces Richard Keys as New Chief Executive Officer

Abano Healthcare Group (ABA:NZX) announced today that Richard Keys, the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed Chief Executive. He will take up the role following the retirement of the current Chief Executive, Alan Clarke, at the company’s 2015 annual meeting to be held later in the year.

Chairman of Abano, Trevor Janes, said: “Following Alan Clarke’s retirement announcement at last year’s Annual Meeting, the Board undertook a careful and considered process to identify the best and most capable person to fill this role. Richard Keys was clearly the most qualified candidate, with the experience, skills and qualities to lead Abano going forward and the Board was unanimous in its selection of Richard as the company’s next Chief Executive.

“Richard Keys has been with Abano for 13 years and has played a vital role in Abano’s evolution as an international scalable healthcare business that is focused on growth and is primarily funded by private revenue. He has worked closely with Alan Clarke to jointly develop our current strategy, and led the implementation of Abano’s acquisition and divestment programme.

“Richard is highly respected by our shareholders and the wider investment community. Alongside Alan, he has been intimately involved in our shareholder engagement programme, which saw Abano win the 2013 and 2015 INFINZ Best Emerging Leaders Corporate Communication Award.

“We were delighted to be able to appoint an internal candidate to the role of the Chief Executive, and it was pleasing that the succession process furnished a strong internal candidate leading to this appointment. This is an endorsement of Abano’s policy to invest in talented people to ensure there is real depth in our senior management teams.”

Richard Keys joined Abano in 2002 as Business Development Manager. In 2003 he was appointed Chief Financial Officer taking on additional operating responsibility in 2007. In 2011, he was formally recognised as joint Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. In 2012, Richard was awarded a Prime Minister’s Scholarship and he completed the residential Challenge of Leadership course, held at the INSEAD Business School in 2013. In 2015, Richard was a finalist for the highly contested Chief Financial Officer of the Year Award.

Alan Clarke commented: “I am truly delighted with the Board’s decision. I have worked closely with Richard for a long time and his intellect and considerable business skills are a hugely valuable asset to the company. Richard is widely respected by the team and I leave knowing the company will be in very safe and capable hands.”

Trevor Janes said: “Alan Clarke was the creator of Abano’s multi-sector healthcare strategy and has passionately steered Abano’s growth and success for the past 16 years. We will take the opportunity to appropriately thank Alan for his extensive contributions to Abano at the 2015 annual meeting.”

Richard Keys Career Summary:
2011 to present: Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer, Abano Healthcare
2003 to 2011: Chief Financial Officer, Abano Healthcare
2002 to 2003: Business Development Manager, Abano Healthcare
1999 to 2001: Manager Strategic Initiatives, South Auckland Health
1996 to 1999: Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Executive Officer, Primecare New Zealand Limited
1992 to 1995: Business Advisory Accountant, Ernst and Young
Member of the NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal, Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, Member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, Bachelor of Commerce.

ENDS

© Scoop Media