Movers and shakers

Darren Ward has joined recruitment firm Pohlen Kean in Auckland as manager contracting and interim resourcing. His broad business and management experience includes senior roles at National Bank, TeleTech and Breathe Communications.

Argent Networks has appointed Frederick M Lax to its board as a non-executive director. Prior to joining Argent Networks, Lax served as president and CEO at Tekelec, a telecommunications company based in North Carolina.

Fix It Building Services, has appointed Margot Mortland as systems development manager. She was previously a regional manager.

Rose-Marie Nathan has joined Tri-Star International as business development manager. She is also an assistant director for the Business Network International organisation.

SSA Global has appointment of Patrick Masterson to consulting manager - New Zealand, Pacific Is and Victoria (Australia). Masterson joins SSA Global from Cap Gemini New Zealand as a service line leader managing its outsourcing and managed services practice.

Auckland business advisory services specialist Warwick Jones has been appointed chairman of chartered accountants and business advisers Grant Thornton New Zealand. Jones succeeds Peter Sherwin.

TelstraClear has appointed Tarek Robbiati as a director, who is Telstra's deputy chief financial officer. Robbiati joined Telstra last year from Atradius, London.

Glenn Patrick has been appointed general manager, payments at the Bank of New Zealand. Patrick has been in the financial industry for 25 years and arrives from Westpac. Tony McKenna is now head of employee relations at Bank of New Zealand and joins the bank from the Ports of Auckland and Whangarei. Campbell Parker is now regional manager, upper north island. Campbell started with Bank of New Zealand in 1996 as an Agribusiness specialist for the Bay of Plenty. Phil Johnstone is the head of communications, marketing and business development. His most recent role was director of corporate affairs at the New Zealand subsidiary of pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme, based in Auckland.