By 
After two years as general manager of the region’s economic development agency, Venture Hawke’s Bay, Janet Takarangi is stepping away from the organisation happy that Venture Hawke’s Bay is in a stronger, better-structured and more capable position.
“After investing a huge amount of my own, my staff and the Board’s energy and focus, we’ve developed an organisation that is starting to deliver, while focusing on local economic growth in a number of areas,” said Ms Takarangi.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chief executive Andrew Newman announced the decision on Monday to staff and indicated the role would be disestablished and not replaced.
Since 2008, Ms Takarangi has reorganised Venture Hawke’s Bay to focus on Regional Promotion and Marketing, Investment and Planning, and Productivity and Innovation. The organisation is working on significant projects that include inwards investment into Hawke’s Bay in addition to the delivery of the regional promotion and marketing programme, opportunities with exporters related to the Shanghai 2010 Expo and the Rugby World Cup 2011.
“We recognise the value to the region of the initiatives and momentum generated by Janet over the last two years and the commitment is to capitalise on this momentum within a tough economic environment,” said Mr Newman.
Media contact
Andrew Newman, Chief Executive, ph 06 835 9200
15:38, 22.07.2010
Some good coverage in the local paper about the woes of Venture HB including Ant Phillips editorial today about how did ever get to the state it’s in.
I see a lot of it is being blamed on management negligence – however what about board negligence – is this being looked at as well?
Like some of you I sit on boards – and I know that responsibility is with us – so how did the VHB board not have a better handle on this and then acted more swiftly? On the boards I’m on we see all the financials and we also see how the organisation is tracking with funding applications etc. Should there be some type of inquiry here?
16:01, 22.07.2010
Sadly Damon there are too many directors just sitting there picking up the fees something that we’ve seen an awful lot of over the past two years, particularity in my industry. Yes an inquiry should be done immediately.