Media Release: The Icehouse Welcomes New Talent to Its Board

Media Release - 6 May 2015

Craig Donaldson, Global CEO of Kea, has been appointed to the board of business growth hub The Icehouse. Mr Donaldson has been one of New Zealand’s most prominent figures in the global financial sector prior to returning home with his family in 2014.

Chris Quin, Chair of The Icehouse, says he and the other board members are excited to have Mr Donaldson join them.

“The board of the Icehouse see strategic value in linking up the activities of supporting Kiwi SME and entrepreneurs with the global diaspora of New Zealand and Craig’s appointment provides a great link between the Icehouse and Kea for the benefit of these Kiwi firms.”

Mr Donaldson has held senior management positions at some of the world’s largest financial institutions, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and Banker’s Trust. He currently sits on Boards for organisations across a range of sectors. As the former head of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s North American Foreign Exchange business, Mr Donaldson led the division’s growth into the top five foreign exchange businesses in North America. Mr Donaldson is well known and regarded within the Kea network.

Mr Donaldson says he is looking forward to working with the other board members on the strategic direction of The Icehouse.

“One of the things I observed since coming back from New York was the opportunity and need to amplify the message of Kiwi entrepreneurs into global networks. We have some work to-do in NZ to make this easier for both the entrepreneurs and our Kiwi friends around the world. I am excited to be joining the board of the Icehouse and supporting it to achieve some important ambitions for New Zealand into the future.”

In addition to Mr Donaldson, the current board members include- Chris Quin, Chairman and currently CEO of Spark Home, Mobile & Business; Andy Shenk, CEO UniServices; Anne Catley, Finance Director Stolthaven Australasia; Anthony Healy, MD and CEO of Bank of New Zealand; Claudia Batten, Director, The Americas, NZTE; Greg Whittred, Dean of the UOA Business School; Sean Simpson, co-founder and CSO, Lanzatech; and Tim Williams, Internet Entrepreneur and Investor. Recently Sean Simpson, Claudia Batten and Tim Willams have renewed their director terms for a further 2 years to 2017.

ENDS

About The Icehouse:

The Icehouse is a business growth hub. We work with a wide range of businesses at various stages of growth - from entrepreneurs launching new ventures through to successful owner-managers wanting to take their business to the next level. We are in a unique position to give our customers the skills, clarity and support to grow their business or fast track their startup because no-one gets them better than we do.

New Zealand is a country of small and medium-sized businesses. The Icehouse was founded in 2001 in recognition of the importance of this sector to the NZ economy. We're committed to creating a high performing New Zealand economy where ideas and businesses thrive and we believe that to unleash the economic potential, we need to lift the capabilities and aspirations of owners, entrepreneurs and people who run startup and SME businesses to enable them to take the business forward.

Since 2001, we have worked with over 5,000 ambitious owner-managers and entrepreneurs. On average our established businesses grow revenue by 12% every year, meaning they grow 2.5x faster than the average NZ business. Our startups have collectively created over 900 jobs, raised more than $117m in funding and have generated over $325m in revenue.

The Icehouse is owned by a not-for-profit trust and backed by the financial support and expertise of the New Zealand government and an extensive group of committed partners that includes: AJ Park, Bank of New Zealand, Deloitte Private, HP New Zealand, Microsoft New Zealand, Spark, Visa and our founder The University of Auckland Business School.

For more information visit www.theicehouse.co.nz

About Kea:

Kea is New Zealand’s global network.

Kea helps the 1 million Kiwis living offshore connect with home and with one another, enabling them to share and leverage global experience, knowledge and opportunities. The organisation is governed by a Global Board of Directors and administered by Kea teams operating in Auckland, London and Shanghai.

Kea’s network continues to grow in reach and influence, with over a quarter of the estimated 1 million Kiwis living overseas and many friends of New Zealand in the Kea community.

Kea also runs the World Class New Zealand network.

For more information visit www.keanewzealand.com.

Contact:

Grace Havill, The Icehouse, g.havill@theicehouse.co.nz, 09 308 6238