HGH - Heartland Group Holdings

[percy]

No I think the boards and staff are doing a great job.

Greenslade impresses me by being able to attract the people he wants for specialist positions.
All the time we are seeing very highly qualified people joining the company, and the boards being strengthened.

[winner69]

No I think the boards and staff are doing a great job.

Don't disagree Percy but could they do even better. Maybe opportunities are not being taken.

Even Mr Cook from Apple is not proud of his companies diversity profile. He laments leading a team of middle aged white males.

Generally being more diverse helps with being more innovative and being better positioned to better understand customer’s needs so they can be met. Above all it empowers (or forces) the company to cast wider nets for get the best talent. Diversity of thinking (whether across gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality, cultures, disabilities etc) is a very powerful force.

I'll see what Jeff comes back with.

[winner69]

Heartland a couple of years ago had a CFO called Sean Kam

He came from Marac I think and was around when when all the mergers were taking place and was in charge of HNZ purse strings at the time of the capital raisings

He a good guy that Sean, a Chinese NZer from Auckland, and a strong advocate businesses, esp Boards and senior management, to become more culturally rich

[percy]

Heartland a couple of years ago had a CFO called Sean Kam

He came from Marac I think and was around when when all the mergers were taking place and was in charge of HNZ purse strings at the time of the capital raisings

He a good guy that Sean, a Chinese NZer from Auckland, and a strong advocate businesses, esp Boards and senior management, to become more culturally rich

Not only a good guy,but was brilliant at what he did.
Last I heard he was helping an insurance company that was thinking of listing.Not sure which one.
The give away that HNZ would achieve the bank licence was when he left,job done.!
Just googled Sean Kam; CFO at Partners Life.

[RTM]

I'd like to see them appoint the best person for the jobs. Irrespective of race, religion or gender.

[Beagle]

I'd like to see them appoint the best person for the jobs. Irrespective of race, religion or gender.

I agree 100%. Makes a pleasant change from SUM's board.

[percy]

Me too. The problem is the people choosing are inevitably biased even when they try not to be.

CEO & coy owner friend in UK says he always picks people who p1ss him off a bit by challenging what's been done. This way he knows he's not talking to a yes-wo/man and the person has learnt something about the company and its environment. He's been successful doing this both with mgt team and board. Went to a bbq and you should have heard how they argue. Good constructive arguing by people who clearly really know their stuff with only humorous, well known, to their face teasing. In Good to Great, Jim Collins calls such behaviour "critical thinking".

Can not think why,but this somehow reminds me of my friend who had to judge a "baby contest."
He gave up and in the end decided the "best baby" on the mother who had the tastiest legs!!!!

[BlackPeter]

I'd like to see them appoint the best person for the jobs. Irrespective of race, religion or gender.

Absolutely agree! However, isn't it funny, that the best person for the job in companies like HNZ nearly always seems to be a white, middle aged male? Call this statistical aberration - or what?

[Bjauck]

Absolutely agree! However, isn't it funny, that the best person for the job in companies like HNZ nearly always seems to be a white, middle aged male? Call this statistical aberration - or what?

I imagine they are middle-aged because they have more experience than youngsters and have not slowed down as much as more elderly people.

White? With HNZ, you have to look for those who are familiar with the NZ environment, with appropriate educational qualifications. I think more NZ Asians are appearing on boards. Do you think racism is holding people back? Then more thorough societal change is needed but in the meantime I hope HNZ is picking the best person for the job, regardless of race.

Male? Fact is fewer men have to take time out to bear children! I cannot see how this will ever change unless surrogates are used by wealthy families! There will always be potentially fewer women with uninterrupted experience at senior level.

[vorno]

Absolutely agree! However, isn't it funny, that the best person for the job in companies like HNZ nearly always seems to be a white, middle aged male? Call this statistical aberration - or what?

You have to keep in mind the simple fact that there are not a lot of women who want to be a 'suit', much like you don't get a lot of men who wish to become fashion designers. It comes down to simple choice, usually influenced by our social factors in life. For instance would you expect a guy with dreadlocks to head it up?! Now that would be an un-usual occurrence!

Statistical aberration? Well, it is expected so I would call it normal!