The BusinessNZ Council has appointed Kirk Hope as new Chief Executive of BusinessNZ.

Mr Hope is currently Chief Executive of the NZ Bankers’ Association. A barrister and solicitor, he was formerly Executive Director of the Financial Services Federation and a member of the Commercial and Business Law Committee of the New Zealand Law Society.

Announcing the appointment, BusinessNZ President Laurie Margrain said Mr Hope’s experience and leadership profile would create strong value and continue BusinessNZ’s record of successful advocacy.

Kirk Hope succeeds Phil O’Reilly who is leaving the position after 11 years for a public policy consultancy role in Wellington.

Mr Hope takes up his role at BusinessNZ in February.