Dumped business manager named top executive

Eighteen months ago Anushiya Ayingaran was dumped from Northland Health's management team -- now she is the country's top young executive.

Last week, she was named young executive of the year in the annual Deloitte/Management Magazine Top 200 Companies Awards, joining an illustrious list of winners including Air New Zealand managing director Ralph Norris, Telecom chairman Rod Dean, and Sir Edmund Hillary.

Ms Ayingaran lost her job as Northland Health's business and finance group manager in June 2003 after 18 management positions were trimmed back to 12.

She went on to become corporate services manager at the Nurse Maude Association in Christchurch, which operates an 80-bed hospital and district nursing services.

Ms Ayingaran said it was the first time someone working in the health field had won the award. She acknowledged the irony of winning the award after being dumped by Northland Health.

Ms Ayingaran had no hard feeling toward Northland Health as an organisation but added that "individuals in organisations make the decisions".

She had been surprised by the number of senior managers who had left the Northland Health and ruled out working under the current regime.

"I wouldn't want to work for a CEO who didn't see my potential," she said.

She spent five years at Northland Health and was still passionate about the people in the region and the health sector.

She would return to Northland without hesitation if a senior position was available and did not rule out perhaps "maybe some day, being CEO".

"This award has opened up huge opportunities for me. I'm thinking carefully about my career plan and what my next move will be."

Northland Health chief executive Karyn McPeake, who oversaw last year's restructuring, issued a brief statement saying she was pleased to hear of Ms Ayingaran's achievement.

"I wish her well and am pleased to hear of her achievement," she said.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)