Hito Farewells Longstanding CEO

Hito Farewells Longstanding CEO

New Zealand Hair and Beauty Industry Training Organisation (HITO) Chair Dr Flora Gilkison today announced the resignation of longstanding CEO Erica Cumming.
Dr Gilkison expressed the appreciation of the Board, staff and representatives across the hair and beauty industries for her service to the organisation over the past almost 19 years, the last 13 of which as CEO.

During her tenure Erica has made a huge contribution to our industries, says Dr Gilkison.

“She has led the organisation through successive government policy changes, introduced new industries to apprenticeships, overseen the development of new qualifications for the hair and beauty sectors, and has achieved international recognition and certification of New Zealand qualifications”.

Dr Gilkison says the organisation has recently completed a strategic review and adopted a new strategic plan that will guide the organisation over the next few years.

“The Board and staff of HITO thank Erica for her long service to the organisation, which is well positioned for the future. Erica’s passion for apprenticeship training has been valued by our industries, and we wish her all the very best for the future”.

Ms Cumming says it’s been a huge honour to lead HITO for more than a decade.

"It has been a privilege working with industry employers and seeing the number of people gain their qualification through an apprenticeship. I am proud of what we have achieved, both as an organisation, and as industries committed to promoting apprenticeships as a preferred pathway to quality staff”, she says.

A fully qualified hairdresser, having started her career in hairdressing in Gore at 15 years old as an apprentice and going on to own her own salons, Ms Cumming has been an advocate for the tertiary education sector and in particular people in the hairdressing, barbering and beauty industries to get qualified – both in New Zealand, and through her role as Chair of the International Professional Standards Network, an international organisation that works to raise the standard of hair and beauty organisations across the world.

Ms Cumming will conclude her time with HITO on 29 July, with an immediate search underway for her replacement.

ENDS

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