Brook Barrington, state sector veteran, named head of MFAT

Brook Barrington, state sector veteran, named head of MFAT

March 3 (BusinessDesk) - Brook Barrington has been named chief executive of New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, returning to a department where he had worked for 20 years before taking on senior roles in Defence and Justice.

Barrington replaces John Allen, who resigned in November after five years in the role, to become head of the New Zealand Racing Board. Craig Hawke will be acting CEO of MFAT until Barrington begins his five-year term on March 23.

Barrington's previous career at the foreign ministry included three years as ambassador to Thailand, postings to Canberra and Brussels, and a stint as foreign policy adviser in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He had taken on a new role at the Ministry of Justice only last year, where he was deputy CEO responsible for the ministry's day-to-day operations.

I am confident Brook will be able to draw on his networks and experience across the public service to work as a team with other chief executives and ensure MFAT’s work is well integrated and aligned," State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie said in a statement.

He takes up the reins at MFAT after a controversial tenure by predecessor Allen, who embarked on a restructuring process that was opposed by many staff and saw 49 ambassadors and heads of foreign missions co-sign a letter criticising the plan.

(BusinessDesk)

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