Foreign Affairs coup for Post chief

New Zealand Post chief executive John Allen will become the next head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in what is an unprecedented appointment.

No one outside the public service has been appointed to the post before, one of the most senior in the public service. Cabinet has been informed and it is expected to be formally announced next week.

The appointment of an outsider would not have been made by the State Services Commission without the express wish of the Government for it to consider such candidates.

Contenders are thought to have included senior diplomat Rosemary Banks, New Zealand's outgoing representative at the United Nations, and Maarten Wevers, head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Mr Allen is co-chairman of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, a group of diplomats, academics, politicians and business people focused on improving relations and business links.

While it is not unknown for outsiders to land public service roles, the major departments such as Treasury, State Services, Foreign Affairs and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet have been reserved for the cream of the public service.

One of Mr Allen's first tasks will be to oversee the reintegration of NZ Aid back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Allen has been chief executive of New Zealand Post since 2003. He is on the board of Te Papa, Save the Children New Zealand and Datacom (in addition to Kiwibank, Datamail and ECL) and is chairman of the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council.