INDEPENDENT NEWS

New appointment to UK Beachheads Advisory Board

Published: Tue 23 May 2006 10:23 AM
Paul Axworthy appointed to UK Beachheads Advisory Board
UK businessman Paul Axworthy has been appointed as a member of NZTE’s UK Beachheads Advisory Board.
NZTE’s Beachhead scheme offers a customised programme that includes input and expertise from Board members in New Zealand and offshore. The Advisory Boards comprise highly successful local business leaders who have developed a wealth of knowledge and are committed to assisting New Zealand companies to succeed in the market.
The Advisory Boards provide mentoring, feedback and monitoring to selected high performing companies seeking growth through entry to offshore markets. Advisory Boards are already operating successfully in the UK and US and are being introduced progressively to other Beachhead locations.
Paul Axworthy (50) is based in London, and is Head of IT for the worldwide group of metals and manufacturing business Johnson Matthey Plc (JM), a position he took up in 1995.
In this role he has responsibility for data and voice communications and commercial contracts and reports to the Chief Executive’s Committee on IT matters, security and investments. He has also been responsible for the development of JM’s ecommerce strategy and continues to steer investment towards new and innovative uses of IT.
Paul’s early career was spent in systems development and IT project management and he completed his commercial studies with the Calor Group.
Joining JM in 1987 at a time when wholesale replacement of all solutions had been sanctioned following the financial difficulties brought about by Johnson Matthey Bankers, Paul oversaw a decade of development and implementation of new IT systems across the company’s divisions in the UK, US, Europe and Asia. JM rejoined the FTSE 100 in 2003, after a 19-year absence.
As a result of JM’s recent restructuring, Paul has also gained valuable experience in mergers and acquisitions, the negotiation of transition services and the technology contracts necessary to underpin companies under new ownership.
Paul said he was looking forward to using his knowledge to help guide New Zealand companies entering the UK market.
Chair of the UK Advisory Board Eric Tracey welcomed Paul Axworthy’s appointment, saying he brings to the Advisory Board a wealth of IT knowledge and connections and an excellent grasp of the commercial realities faced by businesses operating in the UK.
“Securing the support of leading business people for our Advisory Boards is critical to the success of the Beachheads Programme,” he said. “Paul’s experience and expertise will add value to the Board and will give companies entering the UK market a real boost.”
ENDS

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