New Man at the Helm for the Pacific Business Trust

30 January 2008

New Man at the Helm for the Pacific Business Trust

Richard Reid, the new CEO of business support organisation Pacific Business Trust, is excited at the prospect of using his skills and networks to advance the economic prospects of Pacific peoples living in New Zealand.

Mr Reid, who holds an MBA from Massey University, has enjoyed a long and successful business career since training as a mechanic in the early 1970s and progressing through sales to the role of managing director for the New Zealand and Australian operations of Japanese conglomerate, DIC International.

Trust chairperson Pauline Winter says Mr Reid’s leadership qualities and business expertise will stand the trust in good stead as it enters an exciting new stage.

“Mr Reid brings substantial business acumen, international management experience, and leadership to the PBT. We are exceptionally pleased that he has agreed to join the Trust, and we see him as a key driver of a new energy and focus for the organisation, particularly in terms of enhancing key regional stakeholder relationships and projects focused on creating opportunities for Pacific entrepreneurship.”

As managing director of DIC International (NZ) since 1999 and in addition, DIC Australia since 2001, Mr Reid successfully turned both companies around during his tenure, guiding them from mounting losses and increasing debt through to record net profits and increasing assets.

He takes over at the trust from Essendon Tuitupou, who has been acting general manager of the trust since the departure of former CEO Paul Muller in June last year.

About the Pacific Business Trust
Established 22 years ago with the stated aim of ‘assisting New Zealanders of Pacific descent to start, develop and sustain successful businesses’, the Pacific Business Trust (PBT) has evolved into a diverse organisation offering business support for SMEs, and promoting links between the arts and business.

ENDS

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