Kirk Hope to leave BusinessNZ to head Financial Services Council.

Wednesday, 5 June 2024

Business NZ chief executive Kirk Hope is leaving the organisation to head the Financial services Council.

The peak lobbying association for life insurers and KiwiSaver managers has named Kirk Hope as its new chief executive.

The Financial Services Council (FSC) has appointed Hope to replace Richard Klipin who left the FSC in May after nearly eight years with the organisation.

Hope joins from BusinessNZ, where he is currently chief executive, leading political advocacy for the business community.

He will take the reins at FSC on September 18.

The FSC will be the third major political lobbying association Hope has headed, having previous led the Financial Services Federation (FSF), which represents non-bank lenders and deposit-takers.

Before he joined the FSF he had been head of government relations and regulatory affairs at Westpac, lobbying for the bank.

FSC board chairperson Rob Flannagan said Hope brought more than 20 years of leadership experience in the business and financial services sectors to the FSC.

BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope fields questions from a select committee in June on the statements it has made about Fair Pay.

“After a comprehensive search process, we are delighted to appoint Mr Hope as CEO of the Financial Services Council at a critical time of growth and change for our sector,” he said.

He said Hope was a proven leader with a deep understanding of financial services, the business landscape, and the challenges facing many New Zealanders.

“His expertise and experience in regulatory affairs, policy and advocacy will provide strong stewardship as we continue to deliver value for our members and advance our strategic priorities to grow the financial confidence and wellbeing of New Zealanders,” Flannagan said.

Westpac is one of the members of the Financial Services Council. Others include Southern Cross Health Insurance and ANZ.

In a statement released by the FSF, Hope said: “I am very much looking forward to working with the members of the Council on strategic and policy initiatives in the financial services sector that will grow the financial confidence and wellbeing of New Zealanders.”

The FSC has 119 members, which manage funds of more than $100 billion, and pay out life and other personal insurance claims of $2.8b each year.

Members include the major insurers in life, health, disability and income insurance, fund managers, KiwiSaver, and workplace savings schemes (including restricted schemes), professional service providers, and technology providers to the financial services sector.

Members include Westpac, ANZ, Southern Cross Health Insurance and AIA.