HRINZ names new CEO

A British expat with 30 years people management experience has been appointed as CEO of New Zealand’s HR professional body.

The Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRINZ) has appointed Chris Till as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Till is currently the General Manager of Human Resources at Christchurch City Council, where he has helped shape and steer culture and leadership for six years.

HRINZ National President, Rachel Walker said the organisation was delighted with the high level of interest and calibre of applicants, “but Chris brought a great balance of skills which are a strong match to the HRINZ strategy and revised business model”. 

“Chris comes to us with not only knowledge of the profession, but the broader business acumen needed to sustain the financial strength of the Institute,” she said.

Till has 30 years’ experience in people management and has been an executive leader of the HR function for 18 years across a wide variety of sectors including Local Government, Financial Services, IT, Telecommunications, Government Defence, Medical Devices and Logistics.

His experience encompasses private, public and state-owned enterprises and has seen him working in the UK; Middle East; US; Europe and, since 2005, New Zealand.

Till called the appointment a “dream opportunity”.

“I have spent my whole HR career striving to make a positive difference to people, their workplaces and their leadership. Now I have a dream opportunity working with the HRINZ board and a multitude of important stakeholders, partners and collaborators to enhance our institute, profile, profession and its ‘voice of influence’ across New Zealand. I feel both excited and humbled to be taking up this challenge at a time of such great opportunity for the Institute,” he said.

“I find it hard to imagine a more pivotal role in making a real difference for people at work at this time. I look forward to working and collaborating with colleagues right across New Zealand and especially with the team in Wellington”.

Till begins his role as CEO on February 24, 2014. He takes over the position from previous CEO Beverley Main, who resigned in September.