HRINZ CEO resigns

Human Resources Institute Chief Executive Beverley Main is to step down from the position she has held for the last 15 years.

Ms Main and HRINZ National President Rachel Walker announced today that Ms Main’s resignation on medical grounds would be effective from this Friday, September 13. She plans to take a break but will look at part-time consultancy work in semi-retirement.

The HRINZ Board will take the opportunity to review the position before embarking on a recruitment campaign, Ms Walker said.  Brenda Tweedy, Education and Research Manager, has been appointed Acting Manager while the process is undertaken.

“On behalf of the HRINZ board I would like to thank Beverley for the many years of dedicated service she has given to the organisation and wish her well,” she said.

Ms Main, who had worked in not-for-profit organisations and had founded a network for self-employed women, joined what was then the Institute of Personnel Management of New Zealand in 1998 when it was at a low ebb and is proud of the way it has achieved financial and organisational stability.

During her 15 years membership has grown from 1200 members to over 4000, Institute branches have grown from seven to 16 and membership has grown on average 10 percent a year with an enviable retention rate of 94 percent. HRINZ has circa 55 percent of the market share of individual HR professionals, the highest rate in the world. 

HRINZ has become a highly respected professional association which is working with a new strategic plan and a reduced Board that is driving change and strong governance.

Ms Main said when she was appointed it was to lead and grow the business. Her initially limited experience in human resources was not seen as an inhibiting factor but more of an advantage. 

“I could be objective and stand aside to decide on what the business needed.” 

“I have been fortunate to work with some amazing people among our volunteers all over the country at national and local level and they have worked well with our paid staff who are such a great team.”

In her last months as CEO Ms Main organised and oversaw the industry’s annual conference in Wellington which was marked by the contribution of American Professor Dave Ulrich as a keynote speaker, regarded as the world’s leading expert in the field of people management and leadership.

Ms Main was made a life member of HRINZ in 2006.