ASX appoints first man on the ground

Blair Harrison has been appointed senior manager listings and issuer services New Zealand, for the ASX.

A Kiwi returning home will the first man on ground at a new Auckland office being opened by the ASX.

Blair Harrison, who already works for the Australian exchange will relocate to Auckland in late May/early June, to run its New Zealand issuer services.

Harrison, who is a lawyer by training, has worked for the ASX since 2013, and currently heads up its derivatives and over-the-counter markets team.

Harrison hails from New Zealand but has worked in Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom over his career which includes a stint as a solicitor with global asset manager JP Morgan in London.

He is also fluent in Japanese.

Max Cunningham, executive general manager of listings and issuer services at the ASX, said its decision to open an office in New Zealand was a natural evolution of the growth in ASX's NZ business.

"A permanent presence 'on the ground' will better support our existing customers and help develop new leads and opportunities in the listings and investment products space.

"Blair's extensive product experience will also be valuable for promoting ASX more broadly."

In the past five years, the number of NZ companies listed on ASX has grown from 18 to 58.

An exemption for NZX-listed companies has encouraged a large number of those to be dual-listed.