Insurance & Savings Obudsman Chair Appointed

PRESS RELEASE

Ms Beverley Wakem CBE has been appointed to Chair the Insurance & Savings Ombudsman Commission. She replaces the retiring Chairman, Dr Mervyn Probine.

The Commission oversees the work of the Insurance & Savings Ombudsman whose Office provides a dispute resolution procedure for participating insurers and their clients. The service is free to consumers.

Ms Wakem had a distinguished career in broadcast news, current affairs and general programming culminating in her appointment as Chief Executive of Radio New Zealand in 1984 - a post she held until 1991. During this period, Ms Wakem was also President of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union.

In 1991, Ms Wakem was appointed Commercial Director for Wrightson Limited, then a fully owned subsidiary of Fletcher Challenge Limited. In 1992 she became General Manager, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs for the company.

From 1996 to 1997, Ms Wakem was Executive Chairman of Hill & Knowlton New Zealand and in September 1997 was appointed to the Higher Salaries Commission.

Ms Wakem is also Chair of the St James Theatre Charitable Trust, Chair of St James Theatre Limited, and Chair of the Performing Arts Foundation of New Zealand

She was awarded a CBE in 1990 for services to broadcasting and the community and was also awarded the 1990 Commemoration Medal.

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