11 April 2016

The Chief Executive of WorkSafe New Zealand, Gordon MacDonald has resigned and will return to the United Kingdom later this year.

“Gordon has achieved a remarkable amount in his two and a half years with WorkSafe,” WorkSafe’s Board Chair Professor Gregor Coster says.

“He has built capability and capacity and has set a platform for WorkSafe to confidently build from as it enters a new phase with the arrival (4 April 2016) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

“We have built a responsive, effective workplace health and safety regulator under Gordon’s watch and the Board is deeply appreciative of his contribution,” Professor Coster says.

Mr MacDonald will return to the UK to the family he and his wife left behind over two years ago.

“This has been an agonising decision for me and my wife. I would dearly love to steer this organisation to further success and effectiveness, but as I explained to the Board, and they agreed, family must come first,” he says.

The WorkSafe Board will begin a recruitment process shortly to replace Mr MacDonald.

“We cannot give a finite date on which Gordon will leave, but he has agreed to remain in his role up to the end of November this year, if needed, while we seek his successor,” Professor Coster says.