First National board member recognised for service

Ann Crossley said First National's board needed 'fresh blood.'

Ann Crossley's quarter-century with First National in Rotorua and her eight years serving on the property company's national board have been recognised with a Bell Woods award for outstanding service.

The recognition came at the firm's Australasian conference in Queenstown earlier this year, when Ms Crossley stepped down from the board, where she had served as vice chair for most of her term.

"The award was a lovely surprise," said Ms Crossley, principal of Rotorua First National.

She added that all boards needed fresh blood and it was time for her to step down after a challenging time serving through the global financial crisis and the subsequent recovery.

She has worked with First National throughout her career in real estate, and bought the Rotorua business in 2001 with her husband Dave and business partner Murray Piesse.

Ms Crossley said being a board member had given her a different perspective on the sector because of the need to consider the interests of branches throughout the country rather than just local issues.

In Rotorua, property volumes had only begun to recover this year, she added.

"We've had several years where there was very little volume in Rotorua, so it was quite tough, but for the first time in a long time we've broken the 100 sales mark in successive months this year," she said.