Hamilton City Council Names New CEO

15 SEPTEMBER 2014

For Immediate Release

Hamilton City Council today named its new chief executive.

He is Richard Briggs, currently council’s chief financial officer.

Briggs was selected from 36 high-profile applicants from New Zealand and Australia.

He will take over the role from retiring CEO Barry Harris on October 17.

Mayor Julie Hardaker said she and councillors were pleased to welcome Briggs as the new CEO.

“He has done an outstanding job as the chief financial officer,” she said.

“We are looking forward to working with him as the city embarks on a period of tremendous growth and investment.”

The new CEO salary is $330,000, compared to the $385,777 salary paid to Harris.

There are no bonuses, incentive payments or at-risk elements of the remuneration and he will provide his own vehicle.

The new CEO is a chartered accountant who has been in his current role at council for the past two years.

Prior to joining the council executive management team, Briggs was a senior manager with Fonterra for eight years, including working in the United States as USA finance manager.

At Fonterra he was involved in both commercial and financial areas, and as an export manager.

Earlier in his career, Briggs spent nine years with Audit New Zealand.

He began as an assistant auditor, rising to associate director of Audit New Zealand, becoming part of the senior management team in the northern region.

Briggs graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies (Accountancy) from Massey University.

Last year he completed post-graduate qualifications in management governance at the University of Waikato.

Briggs is a member of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand and the Institute of Directors New Zealand.

ENDS

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