New Priority One CEO welcomes supportive atmosphere

Nigel Tutt says he's been heartened in his first week as Priority One's new chief executive to see the respect, support and encouragement from the business community for the economic agency.

Mr Tutt, who was born in Te Puke and raised in Mount Maunganui - where his parents still live - relocated from Auckland to take up the job.

"One of the reasons the role was attractive is because it feels like there's a really good atmosphere here," he said.

Mr Tutt attributed the supportive atmosphere in part to Priority One's deep roots in the local business community. Unlike most New Zealand economic agencies, Priority One is funded by both business and local councils.

"I think it gives Priority One that much more efficacy because it's closer to the business community."

He added that it was too early to discuss any new strategic direction.

"I doubt we'll go rapidly away from the current direction because the stakeholders want us to do a similar thing, and there's nothing broken," he said.

However, reflecting on his own experience as an Auckland resident, of not being aware of the full range of local businesses and economic growth, Mr Tutt said he was interested in putting more energy into spreading the message outside the region.

"I'm impressed with the range of very innovative companies operating in the Bay," he said.

Mr Tutt was the Auckland-based chief executive of Affinity ID, a marketing technology company with offices in New Zealand and Australia, for the past three years.

He previously spent many years in the newspaper and publishing industry, including serving as NZ supply chain manager for PMP, then moving to Fairfax Newspapers as commercial manager - publishing, before being appointed as general manager to lead Fairfax's digital media arm, where he spent almost four years.

His wife and two sons will be relocating to join him over Christmas once the school year is finished.

Priority One chairman Brett Hewlett said Mr Tutt's experience in introducing a digitalisation programme at Fairfax had been a factor in his appointment.

"I think the fact that he can manage change is going to be really important."

But importantly, the board felt that Mr Tutt understood the needs of growing businesses, he said.

"We were looking for someone who can continue the close engagement with the business community. We're looking to attract businesses that have growth potential so they can create jobs and bring talent and skills to the region and especially job opportunities for local people."

Priority One

• Is an economic development agency covering Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.