Tag Archives: David Smol

Smol confirmed as permanent MBIE head

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David Smol has been appointed as the first chief executive of the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), it has been announced by the State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie.

Smol (pictured right) has been acting chief executive of the super ministry since April this year and prior to that he was the chief executive of the former Ministry of Economic Development. His new contract runs until June 2017.

The Government established MBIE on 1 July 2012, bringing together all the existing functions of the former Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Department of Labour and Department of Building and Housing.

The Commissioner says that Smol has the skills and experience to “step up” to successfully lead the transformational change required in MBIE.

Smol will lead approximately 3,500 staff located in offices throughout New Zealand and overseas. MBIE has an annual expenditure of around $660 million and administers non-departmental appropriations of $4 billion.

All change from 1 July

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David Smol, acting MBIE head.

It’s all change from 1 July, when a new Super Ministry will govern the country’s business matters.

The New Zealand government has announced that a new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will kick in on 1 July 2012. This will draw together the existing functions of four current government departments: the Ministry of Science and Innovation: the Minister of Economic Development: Department of Labour; and Department of Building and Housing.

The new Ministry will assist the Government to drive forward its business growth agenda and make it easier for businesses to engage with the government, Economic Development minister Steven Joyce says.

An acting chief executive has already been appointed. David Smol, currently the chief executive of the Ministry of Economic Development, will take up the role to ensure smooth transition to the new agency. The appointment of a new chief executive by the State Services Commissioner is expected by the end of September.

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In another move, agriculture, biosecurity, food safety, forestry, and fishing have already been rolled into one department and the former Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has been renamed the new Ministry of Primary Industries. The change took effect from 30 April and was described by Primary Industries Minister David Carter as “a logical move”.

It recognises the broad role of the Ministry in growing and protecting the primary sector, the power house of New Zealand’s economy. “Importantly, it provides the different parts of the organisation with a single, unifying identity,” he said.

Existing brands for MAF, BioSecurity New Zealand, the Ministry of Fisheries and New Zealand Food Safety Authority will be phased out. The Crown Forestry brand will be retained because it is a commercial forestry business that stands apart from the policy, regulatory and service delivery roles of the Ministry.