UP FRONT • PEOPLE
Collins leaves Peros Mike Pero Mortgages chief executive Mark Collins has accepted a new role outside of the finance industry. Collins, who also headed up Liberty Finance and Mike Pero Real Estate, is the new chief executive at ChildFund. ChildFund New Zealand was established in 1990, to help children and young people to thrive in communities impacted by poverty. After working in the finance sector for more than 20 years, it’s a big move - but one that is close to Collins’ heart; as well as leading large multi-national organisations in his career, he has also initiated small start-ups, including his own charitable enterprise.
“Starting a business that helps people gift their tax rebate back to charities opened my eyes to the hugely valuable work being done by charities.” Collins says it’s an exciting time to take the helm at the not-for-profit. “There is an amazing opportunity to build on the work that has already been done by the ChildFund team and to move forward in addressing the many challenges facing the international development and charity sector. “Not least the impact of COVID-19, and now Omicron, on the work in the field, but also driving forward funding initiatives to ensure we can keep delivering impact to the children and communities we serve.”
Collins, who has also held roles Sovereign and NZ Home Loans, says stepping into the international development sector is an opportunity not only to utilise his experience to deliver impact, but an opportunity to grow personally. “I have the commercial and leadership skills - and I look forward to helping ChildFund optimise its funding and new innovations, to lead to even more impact for the children. “I can think of no higher calling than making an impact to the lives of children to help them achieve their potential.”
Aurora establishes head of mortgages Digby Butcher has been appointed to the newly-created role of Director of Mortgages and Lending at Aurora Financial. Aurora is an Auckland-based firm which recently launched its own KiwiSaver scheme. It is now looking to grow mortgage advice, thus the new role.
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Previously, Butcher spent nearly seven years with Threefold Advisors as an adviser and client services manager. Aurora managing director Simon Rolland says Butcher brings “a huge skillset and knowledge as we look to scale our mortgage business.” “Digby is passionate about giving
clients the best advice and deals around their home loans, and is looking forward to the challenge of growing our team across the country.” The new role includes growing the business, overseeing tricky transactions, ensuring advisers provide a high standard of advice and looking after the back end of the business.
