NZTE strengthens international team

Media release: NZTE strengthens international team

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) has made four recent appointments to its international team in China, Hong Kong and India.

John Cochrane has been appointed Trade Commissioner/Consul in Guangzhou. He is responsible for developing and maintaining an extensive network of business relationships in the region relevant to NZTE clients’ trade and investment interests.

John joined NZTE in late 2011 from Commtest, designers of machinery health information systems, where he was the senior executive responsible for guiding Commtest to such successes as Frost & Sullivan’s global “Best Practice” award. He also led Commtest towards their acquisition by GE Energy in August 2011, and was responsible for establishing Commtest’s operations in Beijing.

Ivan Kinsella has been appointed Investment Director Greater China based in Beijing. He is responsible for shaping NZTE’s investment strategies with China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, working closely with the investment team in New Zealand.

Ivan has over 20 years’ experience dealing with Asia in corporate, advisory and government roles. He has been based in Beijing, Taipei and Hong Kong for 16 years, most recently as Investment Director for Austrade in Beijing.

His experience on both sides of the Tasman includes roles with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Trade Commissioner for Trade New Zealand in Taipei between 1991 and 1994; two stints as Trade Commissioner in Beijing with Austrade.

Kevin Parish has been appointed Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong. He is responsible for promoting trade opportunities and building strategic relationships for New Zealand companies in Hong Kong and Macau.

Before taking up the role in February 2012, Kevin was the Regional Manager for NZTE’s Christchurch office, with responsibility for Canterbury and the West Coast. In this role he managed relationships with regional allies and other central Government entities including CERA. He was also responsible for managing NZTE’s work with some of Canterbury’s larger exporters in the ICT, Energy, Specialised Manufacturing and Food and Beverage sectors.

Kevin has had a range of business roles in New Zealand and overseas as well running his own business in New Zealand.

Richard White has been appointed Trade Commissioner in New Delhi and leads NZTE’s team in north and east India, helping New Zealand businesses enter the Indian market or expand their business in India, and building strategic relationships with Indian businesses that will support business growth and new deals in India.

Prior to taking up this role in February 2012 Richard managed NZTE's Incubator Support Programme which supports the development and growth of successful business incubators throughout New Zealand. Prior to joining NZTE in 2002 Richard spent three years as Chief Executive of the Insurance Institute of New Zealand and 15 years in corporate and commercial banking. Richard holds a Master of Business qualification and is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Banking and Finance (AIBF). He served as New Zealand's representative on the AIBF board from 2001-2005.

ENDS

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