Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand has announced that Rick Ellis will join the organisation as its Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Ellis is currently the CEO of the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, where he was responsible for transforming New Zealand’s iconic cultural institution and leading tourism destination. His career spans over 30 years including tenure as Group Executive Telstra Media, based in Sydney and prior to that CEO of Television New Zealand based in Auckland.

He graduated with a BCom from the University of Auckland in 1976, and has had a career in the IT industry in senior executive roles, in which he worked for US Multinationals for over 25 years in Australia, the UK and New Zealand.

He replaces Lee White who joined Chartered Accountants ANZ as a General Manager in 2009, and served as CEO since 2011. Lee over saw the merger of the Australian and New Zealand institutes, and the alliance with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Murray Jack, Chairman, CA ANZ said: “The profession is in a time of significant change. We’ve invested in our people and our digital assets, and are now looking to continue to transform what we do and how we do it so that we remain relevant as a profession, and as a member organisation. Rick brings many skills based on years of international experience to this task. We are really excited to attract someone of Rick’s reputation and calibre to our organisation.”

Mr Ellis will be based in Sydney, and will join CA ANZ at the end of July. Prior to this time Simon Grant, Head of Members will act as Interim CEO.

This media release was sourced directly from the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand website here.