New Zealand Human Resources Body Appoints New CEO

The Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRINZ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Till in the role of Chief Executive Officer.

HRINZ is the professional body for those involved in Human Resource Management and the development of people. HRINZ represents the interests of over 4000 individual members who make up over 50% of the known New Zealand HR market.

In the search for a new CEO the HRINZ Board were looking for a candidate who could provide HR thought leadership to inform the strategic direction, inspire membership growth, develop value add member services and raise the capability of the HR profession in New Zealand.

HRINZ National President, Rachel Walker says “This appointment is critical for HRINZ as we take our profession to the next stage in terms of profile, national/international influence and impact in the talent, leadership and culture arenas in New Zealand.

We were delighted with the high level of interest and the calibre of applicants for the role 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”.

Chris 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. He continued to lead during the uniquely challenging period of the Canterbury earthquakes and the aftermath of recovery, rebuild and political turmoil.

He played the lead role in shaping a remarkable and positive shift in staff engagement at the Council into the top ten percent of Australasian Local Government.

Chris is passionate about people, the Human Resources profession and people’s right to excellent, inspiring and values driven leadership. He is totally committed to playing his role in supporting HRINZ, its Board, its members and volunteers to excel as a credible and highly regarded profession and essential business partner across New Zealand.

Chris says, “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.

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”.

In his 30 years in people management Chris has been an executive leader of the HR function for eighteen 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. His career has seen him working in the UK, the Middle East, the US, Europe and, since 2005, New Zealand.

British by birth Chris is also a proud New Zealand Citizen. He holds a Master of Arts in Law from Oxford University (St Edmund Hall), the Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management and is a member of HRINZ and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in the UK.

Chris will commence as CEO on 24 February 2014 following the resignation of previous CEO, Beverley Main in September 2013.