Wayne Brown
Wayne Brown has a reputation for being second to no one when it comes to “fixing” non-performing companies, boards and corporations. Putting the lights back on in Auckland, getting Gisborne and Northland Hospital services back on their feet, sorting the digital drivers licence fiasco and delivering the new Auckland Hospital on time and on budget are among his achievements.
He is also a highly successful businessman in his own right with interests in land development, television channels, surf wear and leisure clothing.
An engineer by profession, Wayne Brown always wanted to be master of his own destiny. Now, as a company chairman, property developer, successful businessman, former manager of the New Zealand surfing team and a keen surfie himself, he most certainly is.
Wayne is former chairman of Northland Health Ltd and was the longest serving of NZ’s hospital chairmen. He attributes Northland Health's economic recovery (transformation from a $7 million deficit in 1993 to a $500,000 surplus in 1997) to steady progress and a focus on the improvement of health.
Following the public enquiry into Gisborne Hospital, Wayne was appointed by the Minister of Health to replace the dismissed board of Tairawhiti Healthcare Ltd. He has also been appointed chairman of Vector (following the Auckland CBD power failure), the LTSA (following the issue of digital drivers’ licenses) and Auckland DHB (appointed to chair the completion of the $500m new hospital).
Wayne is the owner of Waahi Paraone Ltd (one of Northland’s largest property development companies) and Coastlines (NZ’s fastest growing surf label – now in over 200 shops in 5 countries).
In May 2007, Random House NZ published Wayne’s first book, “the five minute mba”. The book is a practical, witty, straight-talking guide teaching readers in ten easy lessons to achieve dramatic improvements in business.
Wayne currently leads Kordia (one of the region's leading providers of customised broadcast and telecommunications networks, network services and converged solutions).
Wayne is a thought provoking speaker who loves to challenge the status quo and questions the way people and organisations do things. He encourages his audiences to think outside the square when looking to improve performance and results. He offers a pragmatic style that makes his advice easy to absorb.
Favourite quotes
He lives in a small town, surfs three times a week, chairs the only profitable public hospital service, is at the head of the digital revolution; this tall poppy (who thinks of himself as tall paspallum) will take you through his 5 minute MBA course to future success.
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