Wise Group leadership announcement

Tēnā katoa mai koutou e te whānau whānui o WISE, tae atu ki a koutou o waho atu e manaaki mai nā. E mihi nui atu ana. He pānui, he pānui!

The Wise Trust Board has announced changes to Wise Group leadership this year, as part of our long-term succession planning. These changes are designed to strengthen our future, building on the incredible mahi of current and past leaders.

Over the past two years, the Wise Trust Board has been working through succession planning at both a Board and Chief Executive level.

As part of this process, we have celebrated and acknowledged the enormous contribution made by several of our long-serving directors, as they retire from Boards. During this time, we have also appointed and welcomed some exciting new board members from diverse backgrounds.

Upcoming changes – board chair and chief executive roles 

As part of the succession planning, we can now announce that Bruce Sheridan, chairman of the Wise Trust Board since June 2000, will retire in July 2022.

There will also be changes at Wise Group Chief Executive level. Julie Nelson and Jacqui Graham will resign their roles as Wise Group chief executives from 1 July 2022.

Julie and Jacqui have been the chief executives of the Wise Group since it was founded in 1989. They will continue to be involved in the Group following their resignation from these roles, with Julie stepping in as chair of the Wise Trust Board to replace Bruce, and both Julie and Jacqui continuing to chair some subsidiary boards and assist with key projects.

Appointing a new chief executive 

Recruitment will start soon to appoint a new Wise Group chief executive – one person to replace Julie and Jacqui and lead what is now a large, mature organisation into the future.

Paul Ingle from the Hardy Group has been engaged to facilitate the chief executive recruitment process, and we expect to announce the new appointment in April 2022.

Looking to the future 

Like many successful organisations we take succession planning seriously. The Wise Trust Board has taken a long-term, thoughtful approach to this process in order to minimise disruption and strongly position the group to deliver on its purpose – creating fresh possibilities and services for the wellbeing of people, organisations and communities.

Our commitment to staff, tāngata whai ora, and the communities we serve is always at the heart of every decision we make, including this planned transition to the future.

Kāti, ka nui te mihi ki a koutou. Tēnā anō tātou katoa.

Published on: 10 March 2022