NEWS RELEASE

16 July 2013

New Zealand Red Cross Appoints New Leader

The National Board of New Zealand Red Cross is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Paine as Secretary General.

Mr Paine is currently chief executive of Victim Support. He previously ran the Christchurch Arts Centre and has served on the board of Housing New Zealand Corporation.

New Zealand Red Cross national president Dr Jenny McMahon says the board is delighted to have secured someone of Mr Paine’s calibre.

“Tony has proven management skills and empathy with the humanitarian sector. We are confident he will continue to develop our domestic and international programmes, while addressing our growing commercial challenges, and strengthening our membership and volunteer base,” she says.

Mr Paine, who has been involved in the not for profit sector for more than 20 years, says it’s an honour to be able to lead one of New Zealand’s largest humanitarian organisations.

“Red Cross has long been a global humanitarian leader and with nearly 100 years of activity in New Zealand, it has gained recognition for its work on the response and recovery after the Christchurch earthquakes, and more recently the settlement of quota refugees,” he says.

“I look forward to working with the skilled and experienced New Zealand Red Cross board, the dedicated members and volunteers and not least the committed and capable staff. Together we will work to grow the resilience and ability of the organisation and to achieve its mission of improving the lives of vulnerable people by harnessing the power of humanity,” Mr Paine says. @NZRedCross facebook.com/newzealandredcross

Mr Paine will take up his position on 2 September 2013. He replaces former chief executive John Ware who retired in April after six years in the job.

ENDS

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