STATE SERVICES COMMISSION MEDIA RELEASE
11 SEPTEMBER 2013

Chief Executive and Director of Serious Fraud Office Appointed

State Services Commissioner and Head of State Services Iain Rennie has today announced the appointment of Julie Read as Chief Executive and Director of the Serious Fraud Office.

Ms Read has over 20 years experience as a litigator, including 10 years with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) holding several senior executive roles. She is currently the Special Counsel (Litigation) in ASIC’s Chief Legal Office - a position she has held since 2010.

“Ms Read is a senior public servant with significant experience at executive level managing work very similar to that of the Serious Fraud Office,” Mr Rennie said.

“She has a track record of building and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders and colleague agencies, while discharging her statutory role in complex and challenging investigations and prosecutions,” he said.

The Serious Fraud Office is a specialised government department based in Auckland with around 50 staff. It is responsible for detecting, investigating and prosecuting serious and complex financial crime, bribery and corruption.

“New Zealanders and people investing in New Zealand need to be assured that fraud and corruption will not be tolerated,” Mr Rennie said.

“Ms Read will lead the Serious Fraud Office to actively monitor, investigate and prosecute so that serious fraud and corruption does not go undetected or unpunished,” he said.

Ms Read has been appointed for a term of three years and will take up her role on 21 October 2013. Ms Read is Australian and is currently based in Hobart; she will be moving to New Zealand to take up her new role.

Simon McArley is currently Acting Chief Executive of the Serious Fraud Office.

ENDS

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