Miriam Taris
A new, interim chief executive has been appointed for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council following John Holyoake’s resignation in January.
Appointed in February, Miriam Taris will take up the position on March 31. Council expects she will remain in the role until early next year following a full recruitment process set to begin after October’s local body elections.
Miriam will be a familiar face having worked at the council since 2008 and as chief executive from 2014-21.
Since 2021, Miriam has taken several interim chief executive roles in local government, including at South Waikato District Council, New Plymouth District Council and with Taituarā. Most recently, she has been assisting in a senior role at Wellington City Council.
Western BOP Mayor, James Denyer, is looking forward to Miriam’s return.
“Miriam has a wealth of experience from her time at Western Bay previously and from the wider perspective she has gained having worked at other councils more recently. Council is very pleased to welcome her back as interim chief executive until a permanent replacement is found after the elections.”
James confirms that John Holyoake will remain as chief executive until the end of March.
“I would like to take this opportunity to again thank John for his contribution to our council and the wider district. He leaves council in a good space to continue to serve our communities.”
Matt Baker
PMG Funds welcomed Matt Baker as its new chief financial officer, succeeding Nigel Lowe, in February. A chartered accountant, Matt holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting.
With more than 15 years’ experience in financial leadership in New Zealand and London, he has worked in ‘big four’ accounting firms, fund management, and banking.
Matt will drive financial strategy, oversee financial reporting and compliance and support property acquisitions and risk management. He is passionate about delivering strong financial outcomes and helping investors achieve their goals, his new employers confirm.
Emily Crutchley
An employment law specialist with extensive experience advising clients regarding legal and employee relations matters, Emily Crutchley is a recent addition to the Sharp Tudhope team.
‘Her clients value her strategic thinking, pragmatic solutions and ability to navigate complex employment law challenges with a calm, professional approach,” the local law firm stated, ‘She enjoys guiding workplace investigations and conflict resolution processes, and developing thoughtful employee relations strategies.”
Previously based in Hong Kong, Emily was the head of employment legal, Asia Pacific, for a leading US financial institution. During this time, she led a team handling employment legal matters across 11 APAC jurisdictions, providing senior management with strategic counsel on complex regional and global employment issues.
‘Emily has also worked at top tier law firms in New Zealand and Hong Kong, gaining deep experience across all facets of employment law.’
