Media Release - New XRB Chief Executive brings wealth of international experience

The External Reporting Board (XRB) has appointed April Mackenzie (pictured) as its new Chief Executive, welcoming her deep international and local experience at a time when global uncertainty and disruption make trust in external reporting is more important than ever.

Mackenzie has extensive experience in external reporting in New Zealand and internationally. She acted as Interim Chief Executive for the International Valuation Standards Council, following ten years as Global Head of Governance and Public Policy for Grant Thornton International, where she was a partner.

“April’s experience with international standard-setting bodies will be invaluable” said Michele Embling, XRB Chair. “New Zealand’s competitiveness relies on people having trust and confidence in our regulatory environment and external reporting of our entities across all sectors. Our stakeholders at home and overseas rely on reporting standards being robust, meeting accountability needs, and being suitable for an evolving business environment."

“April’s considerable work with key international standards forums will help us as we contribute to global conversations around the evolving role of accounting and audit standards and ensure that our standards framework remains fit for purpose for the future and contributes to the sustainable and inclusive economic goals of New Zealanders.”

Mackenzie was also previously Divisional Director of Policy for the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (now Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand) and has a background in accounting and auditing with Touche Ross & Co in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, the New Zealand Securities Commission and the New Zealand Audit Office. She has served as a technical advisor on the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB)of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the international body which also oversees the work of the International Audit and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB,). She has been a member of the International Financial Reporting Standards Advisory Council (IFRS), the Global Public Policy Committee, and the Joint Ethics Committee of the Consultative Committee of Accounting Bodies in the United Kingdom.

"Accountability and transparency form the foundations of the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. It is critical that there is confidence in financial information used within organisations and by markets. I am very pleased to join the External Reporting Board team, to contribute to the important and valuable work that they do," said Mackenzie.

She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and holds a Master of Commerce (Hon) from University of Auckland. She replaces Chief Executive Warren Allen who retires in December, after four years in the role. April Mackenzie will commence in December.

ENDS