Cooperative Business New Zealand appoints new CEO

Cooperative Business New Zealand appoints new CEO

Cooperative Business New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment of Craig Presland as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Cooperative Business New Zealand is the industry peak body, bringing together the country's co-operative and mutual businesses to promote, encourage, support and advocate this highly successful business model.

Co-operatives have a proud place in New Zealand business, accounting for almost one-fifth of New Zealand’s gross domestic product, employing 43,000 people, and with a combined turnover of $41 billion a year.

In making the announcement, Cooperative Business Chair, Jonathan Lee, said Mr Presland brings an impressive track record to the role, including many senior leadership roles and working for both a co-operative and shared services organisation.

“Craig is a great acquisition for our organisation and for the sector, and we are excited about the opportunities for the year ahead as Craig works to strengthen our member value proposition, as well as identify new opportunities to promote this very successful business model,” Mr Lee said.

Cooperative Business currently represents over 50 New Zealand co-operatives operating across the spectrum of industries including agriculture, manufacturing, insurance, banking and other financial services, utilities, pharmaceuticals, education, health, wholesale and retail.

Mr Lee said Mr Presland will spend the next few weeks away from his Auckland office to meet as many members as possible.

"Craig brings valuable experience to Cooperative Business New Zealand's advocacy programmes including as we work with the Financial Markets Authority to reduce co-operatives' compliance costs," he said.

A commerce graduate from the University of Auckland, Mr Presland has led a diverse range of NZ-based organisations including:

• ABC Developmental Learning Centres (NZ) Ltd, which was New Zealand’s largest privately owned pre-school childcare provider with 127 centres and over 8,000 children nationally;

• International SOS (NZ) Ltd, the global travel and medical assistance provider for Kiwis travelling overseas;

• healthAlliance, the shared services provider for the Waitemata and Counties Manukau District Health Boards; and

• Emery Worldwide (NZ) Ltd, a large US-based freight forwarder that is now part of United Parcel Service.

Prior to his first GM role in 1997, Mr Presland spent 12 years working in the NZ dairy industry in both local and international marketing roles, as well as in finance.

While working as Commercial Director of Fletcher Building during 2000 to 2002, he led a performance improvement project in relation to the company’s 48 PlaceMakers stores.

Between 2012 and 2014, he was NZ Cricket’s Chief Operating Officer and headed the restructure and relocation of support services to Auckland and led the administration of NZ Cricket’s extensive governance review.

Married with three children, the former first-class cricketer is also the current Chairman of the Parnell Cricket Club.

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