Chorus CFO Andrew Carroll the 2017 CFO of the year

Wednesday, 15 March 2017

Chorus chief financial officer Andrew Carroll was successful despite significant challenges, the judges say.

Andrew Carroll of Chorus is the EY chief financial officer of the year.

Carroll received the award at the 2017 CFO Awards in Auckland on Wednesday, for his work rebuilding market confidence in Chorus.

NZ Super Fund chief executive Adrian Orr was recognised for his significant impact on business.

The judges said Carroll had successfully addressed a significant funding gap at the fibre company, as well as steering Chorus through complex regulatory challenges and market concern.

'Despite the significant external challenges, Andrew demonstrated a strong ability to support his chief executive, communicate well with a wide variety of stakeholders, and maintain exceptionally high staff engagement levels.'

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The CFO Awards celebrate New Zealand's top chief financial officers and senior finance executives and teams.

New Zealand Superannuation Fund chief executive Adrian Orr received an award for outstanding contribution to finance and business.

The judges commended Orr on his decorated career spanning NZ Treasury, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and the World Bank Treasury, which had had a significant impact on the greater business community.

Listed retirement home operator Summerset was named finance team of the year, for using better quality information to deliver an estimated 60 per cent profit increase.

PlaceMakers won the financial innovation project of the year, while Richard Chew from 90 Seconds took the award for SME finance team of the year.

Casey Blatch of Synlait Milk was named the young financial manager of the year, while Jessie Watling of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts was highly commended in the same category.

The judges said what Casey had achieved in 10 years, and at the age of 34, what many spent a whole career working on.

'Casey subsequently led important efforts in Synlait to make finance processes more efficient, introduced a policy around foreign exchange hedging, and implemented an innovative financing facility secured by working capital, and a dual listing for Synlait in Australia and New Zealand.'

Watling, meanwhile, was said to lead a highly engaged finance team where she had developed a 10-year plan so Ruapehu would be a winter attraction for skiers for decades to come.

'Jessie's steps in making finance an effective partner of the business and her passion for the Ruapehu business and doing it all at 28 years old made Jessie worthy of high commendation award.'

Head judge Jonathan Mason, a former Fonterra CFO, said the judges were impressed with the calibre of all the winners and finalists.

The awards were organised by Fairfax Media (publisher of Stuff) and Conferenz.