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Board of Banking Ombudsman Scheme Ltd media release on appointment of Deborah Battell as new Banking Ombudsman
Ms Battell replaces Mrs Liz Brown, who is retiring after holding the position since 1995.
Announcing the appointment, the Chairman of the Ombudsman Scheme, Sir Ian Barker QC, said Ms Battell brought considerable experience in commercial, management and strategic roles to the position. Ms Battell takes up the position on 21 July.
Ms Battell is presently Director of Competition for the Commerce Commission, having previously worked as its Director of Fair Trading. Ms Battell has also worked for KPMG as a strategic management consultant, in planning and development for Radio New Zealand and as a senior researcher at the former Broadcasting Corporation.
Sir Ian also paid tribute to the work of Mrs Brown. ‘Liz Brown has been Banking Ombudsman for 14 years. She has been a dedicated and extremely professional leader of the Ombudsman team and has become recognised internationally as a leader in dispute resolution of banking issues.’
‘Mrs Brown has held office during times of economic prosperity and times of financial hardship and has dealt professionally with an extremely wide range of issues. Mrs Brown is widely recognised for her fairness and integrity and the high standing of the Ombudsman scheme is a tribute to her,’ Sir Ian said.”