Bank of New Zealand and the Business School’s shared vision for the Chair, to be known as the Bank of New Zealand Professor of Finance, is for an enterprising business school internationally renowned for excellence in teaching and research.

“There has always been a need for a deep level of analysis about how financial institutions in this country operate, and how they affect the lives of ordinary New Zealanders,” says Peter Thodey, Managing Director, Bank of New Zealand.

“The more that can be done to build knowledge about finance, the better we can weather downturns, market shifts, and empower companies and individuals to perform better financially,” he says.

The new Chair will promote the research and teaching of corporate finance, investment and risk management. A principal duty will be to build strong relationships and knowledge transfer between the Business School and the finance community.

“We’re delighted to have the backing of one of New Zealand’s major financial institutions,” says Professor Barry Spicer, Dean of The University of Auckland Business School. “As a founding partner of the School’s affiliate, The ICEHOUSE (International Centre for Entrepreneurship), the Bank has been a longstanding champion of improved knowledge and capability in New Zealand.”

The Business School was the first business school in New Zealand to earn the “triple crown” of leading international accreditations from AACSB International, EQUIS and AMBA (Association of MBAs) – putting it in a prestigious group of schools which collectively make up approximately one percent of the world’s leading business schools.

The search is underway for a candidate to become the Bank of New Zealand Professor of Finance.

The Chair will have a disciplinary home within the Department of Accounting and Finance. Department Head, Professor Jilnaught Wong, said the Chair would provide “a tremendous boost to the Business School’s research and teaching for the ultimate benefit of the New Zealand economy.”