ICEHOUSE welcomes new talent to Board

15 July 2013

ICEHOUSE welcomes new talent to Board

Andy Shenk, CEO of Auckland UniServices, has joined the board of The ICEHOUSE, a company that is focussed on helping Kiwi businesses grow.

Mr Shenk has a strong background in the commercialisation of research products after working as Chief Scientist at Fonterra Cooperative Group, prior to joining Auckland UniServices in March this year.

In his role with Fonterra, he had global responsibility for leveraging external R&D capabilities, technologies and funding. Mr Shenk also had a governance role in Fonterra's venture investing activities, which he established while he was the Senior VP - Venture Investments, based with Burrill and Company in San Francisco.

Before moving to New Zealand in the mid-nineties, Mr Shenk was a Research Associate Professor in the College of Medicine at UC – Irvine, and a Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University and Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware.

Mr Shenk says with the right support, we can build on our national creativity to produce great companies for the good of all New Zealanders, and hopes with his new position he can help more.

“The more that people try and succeed, and the more that we as a nation celebrate that success, the more likely it is that New Zealand can develop a culture of innovation to go along with our culture of invention. The reality is that New Zealand businesses need to be good enough to compete with the best in the world, not just the best in town or the best company down the road. The ICEHOUSE can provide the support and the inspiration that our companies need to grow and thrive,” he says.

ICEHOUSE Chairman Chris Quinn says Mr Shenk makes an excellent addition to the Board.

“He brings global experience in R&D and commercialising innovation projects – which complements the objectives of The ICEHOUSE. Increasing the breadth and experience on our board demonstrates our commitment to collaboration across the Kiwi business growth segment to help our companies grow.”

In addition to Mr Shenk, The ICEHOUSE board consists of Chris Quinn, Sally Synott, Dr Sean Simpson, Claudia Batten, Anthony Healy, Bernie Crosbie, Greg Whittred, and Tim Williams.

About The ICEHOUSE
Named one of the top 10 business growth hubs in the world by Forbes magazine, the ICEHOUSE is a business growth centre focused on developing owner-managers and entrepreneurs who will shape the future of New Zealand’s economy. The organisation provides advice and funding for start-ups, a series of learning & development & coaching programmes for owner managed businesses and access to networks and talent that enable the businesses to achieve their growth aspirations.

The ICEHOUSE is backed by the financial support and expertise of the University of Auckland Business School, BNZ, HP, NZTE, Gen-I, Telecom, Ernst & Young, A-Teed, KPMG, JB Were, Microsoft, AJ Park, Paul Diver and Associates and Grafton Consulting Group. Since 2001 The ICEHOUSE has worked with over 4,500 ambitious owner managers – from start-ups to established multi-million dollar companies.

For more information visit www.theicehouse.co.nz

ENDS

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