New Zealand United States Council Appoints New Executive Director
The Board of the New Zealand United States Council announced today that it has appointed Mr Jim Burns as its new
Executive Director.
The NZUS Council is the principal organisation representing the business sector as part of New Zealand’s initiative to
obtain a Free Trade Agreement with the United States and is committed to enhancing the overall relationship between the
two countries.
Mr Burns has recently returned to New Zealand after eight years working at a senior level in a variety of companies in
the United Kingdom, Japan and, most recently, in the United States where he was the Vice-President, Corporate and
Regulatory Affairs at Lane Limited, an Atlanta-based specialty tobacco manufacturing company.
NZUS Council Chairman, the Rt Honourable Jim Bolger, said Mr Burns brings wide international business experience to his
role at the Council.
“In particular, his recent work in the USA has given him a first hand understanding of the key relationships between the
commercial and legislative sectors in the USA.”.
Mr Burns said he welcomed the opportunity to build on the Council’s achievements to date and was looking forward to
working with member companies and organisations and prospective new council members to build a stronger, broader
relationship with the United States.