Newpark appoints new CEO

Newpark Group has appointed a new CEO to replace Dean McDougall who left recently.

Tuesday, March 5th 2019, 1:53PM

Melanie Purdey

Melanie Purdey has been appointed as the new chief executive and will take up the role on April 2.

The Board selected Purdey for her 25 years experience in financial services in both Canada and New Zealand, and across the spectrum of lending, insurances and investments.

Combined with this is Purdey’s tenure over the past nine years as the Sales Manager at MAS coaching and leading productivity and performance for a large team of Advisers. Her understanding of the new regulatory regime and manifest passion for the cultural DNA required to ensure good conduct to protect a client’s best interest made her an obvious choice, chairman Burton Shipley said.

Purdey started her career in Canada with the Royal Bank of Canada, and spent several years with NZ banks before joining MAS in 2010. She has regularly been acknowledged for her leadership and exceptional contribution there over the years.

After graduating from Carlton University in Ottawa in Communications, and studying Economics and Politics at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan, Purdey began her career in Canada working in the media and running a large family business. She also operated her own small businesses on both sides of the world therefore has a huge respect and admiration for independent brokers who seek to build something of value based on their beliefs and their own tenacity.
Purdey is also an Authorized Financial Adviser and a member of AMINZ (Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand.)

“As one of New Zealand’s largest dealer groups, Newpark’s commitment to supporting Advisers’ success is what drew me to the role. My calling has been to help Advisers find the best version of themselves and give them the tools to succeed. Our goal is to make Newpark the obvious choice for Advisers by ensuring those tools are best of breed, current, and compliant coupled with a brand, culture and team that are unmatched in the market.”

“With a highly motivated Board along with a talented and diverse team of people, Newpark will build a culture that combines performance excellence with a robust set of shared values. Newpark is well positioned to build on its impressive growth story of over 20 years.”

“I am very excited to be working once again with entrepreneurs who understand the value of hard work and a commitment to protecting their clients. Professionals who understand the truth behind Samuel Goldwyn’s comment “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” I am delighted to be leading Newpark as it works to understand, innovate and succeed through the new regulatory issues that will accelerate the pace of change across our industry.”

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