Short time to reflect: Cushing

By Fran O'Sullivan

Sir Selwyn Cushing took time out yesterday to "reflect on and acknowledge the help and support" his colleagues at ECNZ and Air New Zealand had made to his business success.

"These are two outstanding New Zealand companies I have been privileged to lead in recent times as chairman," said Sir Selwyn, who becomes a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

But his time for reflection will be short: "Brierley Investments is going to monopolise my time in the New Year."

Knighthoods are usually awarded at the tailend of a distinguished business career. At 62, Sir Selwyn has the unusual distinction of moving back into a frontline position, as chief executive of Brierley Investments (BIL), after nearly a decade away from the executive floor.

But Sir Selwyn said yesterday that his time as chief executive officer would not be long, "some six to nine months."

Sir Selwyn's appointment as chairman and CEO makes him the third business knight to be at the helm of BIL. Founder-president Sir Ron Brierley and former Labour Minister of Finance Sir Roger Douglas were previous chairmen.

Sir Selwyn has a reputation as an independent chairman, not afraid to tackle controversy head-on, such as his stoush with Minister of Energy Max Bradford over the future of ECNZ.

Yesterday Sir Selwyn mused that he had agreed with the Government on 90 per cent of the electricity industry reforms, but he would have liked ECNZ to have been privatised in Contact Energy's place.

"Selling 60 per cent of ECNZ would have raised $2 billion, which New Zealand badly needed this past year," he said.

While Sir Selwyn is widely known for his business prowess, his knighthood also acknowledges his services to sport and the arts.

He has been the driving force behind the development of New Zealand Youth Cricket and has personally assisted many cricketers.

He put his financial muscle behind the Royal New Zealand Ballet for 20 years, facilitating corporate sponsorships from both BIL and ECNZ, and he was instrumental in the turnaround of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra after the Government appointed him chairman of the financially troubled company.

A fine violinist, Sir Selwyn said he had had the great satisfaction of working and playing with members of the orchestra.

Sir Selwyn is also chairman of the Mount Cook Group, New Zealand Rural Properties and Passive Funds Management.

He served on the Securities Commission for 13 years and has been a strong advocate of takeover law reform.

Sir Selwyn was celebrating his knighthood at his family home in Hastings with his partner, Glennis Weber, his son David and his first grandchild.

Pictured: Sir Selwyn Cushing.