Key taps NZX chief to lead Christchurch earthquake appeal

Mark Weldon says he is focused on the appeal fund and getting as much support as he can for Christchurch. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NZX chief executive Mark Weldon is to spearhead the Government's Earthquake Appeal, Prime Minister John Key announced yesterday, raising speculation that the high-flying executive may have political aspirations.

Weldon has a high profile in New Zealand and has extensive contacts abroad, having worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Co in New York up until 2002.

Yesterday, he told the Business Herald he was pleased to help.

"When the Prime Minister gives you the call and you're in a National State of Emergency it's a great privilege to say 'what can I do?'."

Key said Weldon had "a wealth of experience both in New Zealand and overseas, and has the networks to enable the appeal to be a truly global one".

Weldon said those networks included "some of the places I used to work, and also individuals out there, the Chris Liddells and John Kirwans of the world and the World Economic Forum".

"What we need to do is both reach directly to New Zealanders overseas and corporations that have deep ties to New Zealand and we need to empower a few New Zealanders overseas to actually go forth and take some action and hold some events."

While it was still early days in terms of pulling together those who had the capability and relationships, Weldon said he'd already asked 42 Below founder Geoff Ross to be involved on the marketing side.

"We'll be running some broad-based campaigns on social media that Geoff is so wonderful at.

"We're going to make sure it's an inclusionary approach. The people out there that have a lot of money we'll target selectively but every dollar is created equal and every person should feel good about giving every little bit."

Over the next four to six weeks Weldon would be travelling to those places around the world "that have the deepest and strongest relationships at a human and business level with New Zealand".

These would include "Australia, the US, the UK, some of the Southeast Asian trading partners and places where there are New Zealanders of note".

However Weldon's immediate move would be down the road from NZX's Wellington headquarters to a government office, "so I'm near the people who can assist overseas".

He will also be closer to Parliament and his appointment will fuel long-standing speculation he is considering a career in politics. "Something like this will give him profile and presence," said one market commentator.

"He is a guy who can handle himself pretty well, and he knows the political game pretty well. In terms of where Mark is at, he has indicated that it is almost time for him to move on from the NZX."

But Weldon himself downplayed that prospect.

"That's not on the table. I've got one thing on my mind at the moment and that's this fund and getting as much support as we can for Christchurch."

Weldon said funds raised in the appeal would be applied to "community infrastructure" that was often taken for granted but which had been built up over a century in the city.

"You're talking about the school halls, the cathedrals, the gymnasiums and swimming pools, the arts centres - all of these things that are a part of everybody's life when they grow up and where communities have their hearts in a way. That stuff has been absolutely devastated and those are the bits that fall through the gaps where it's not really central government balance sheet and it's not emergency relief. It's the bit where the private sector can play a meaningful role."

MARK WELDON
* Swam for New Zealand at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
* Worked as an attorney in New York, and then as senior adviser to chief executives at a number of Fortune 500 companies for McKinsey & Co.
* Appointed NZX chief executive in 2002.
* Chaired the Prime Minister's Job Summit in 2009.