John Milford has resigned from his MD position on the board of department store, Kirkcaldie & Stains.
Milford will take up the position of CEO of Business Central in late March, which also incorporates the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce.
He has also resigned as a director of the company and its subsidiaries.
Kirkcaldie says that in the coming weeks the board will evaluate the options for recruiting a successor, with Milford working with the board on an appropriate transition plan.
Milford has been the president of the Wellington Employer’s Chamber of Commerce since March 2013.
Vaughan Renner, Business Central president, said that Milford’s knowledge and experience of business in general, and of the retail sector in particular, will be of a huge benefit to member businesses.
“We have already seen this in the work he has done as Chamber president, representing the views of business, and no doubt he will also carry that through to the wider role of Business Central,” said Renner.
“John will be an asset in continuing our good work in Wellington, as well as building the organisation to strengthen branches in the regional centres and improve the engagement with members.
“His close knowledge of the organisations will mean that he will be off to a flying start.”
Milford said that the region has huge potential, and some challenges, and he is looking forward to working with the team at Business Central.
“I’m a big fan of transparency. Business appreciates that it has to contribute, but it also wants to know that its money is spent on projects that will take the region forward, strengthen economic growth and attract new business.
“Looking at Wellington, business contributes nearly half of the rates take so we expect to have some influence on how it’s spent.”
His experience includes heading Kirkcaldie & Stains since 2006, Repco GM for Australia, Pacific Retail Group GM-CEO, and Farmers Trading Company GM.
Milford has also chaired the Partnership Wellington Trust for five years, chaired Positively Wellington Tourism, and has been on the board of the Wellington Employer’s Chamber of Commerce and BusinessNZ.
Trevor Goodwin, Business Central council member, will continue as executive director until Milford takes up the position of CEO in March.
Milford replaces Raewyn Bleakley, who leaves to become regional director central at the New Zealand Transport Agency.
