The appointments were announced by Aoraki Development Trust (ADT) chief executive Murray Cleverley last week. The ADT, which is principally funded by the council, holds the administration contract with the chamber.
Mr Cleverley said the ADT was delighted to have appointed Mr Jack, who took up the positions on May 19.
‘‘The chamber moved 12 months ago to improve the service to its members with the appointment of Malcolm Eadie as policy and operations manager. This was for a fixed term, which has now come to an end,'' Mr Cleverley said.
‘‘The position proved a welcome benefit to the chamber and now has been replaced with a full manager to be the face of the chamber,'' he said.
Mr Cleverley said Mr Jack's new position with ADT as export cluster manager was supported by cluster partners PrimePort Timaru and ASB Bank.
‘‘While technically an employee of ADT, he is very much focused on chamber business. Mr Jack will be approximately two and a-half days a week as the chamber manager and one day a week in the role of export cluster manager.''
The potential for conflict of interest between Mr Jack's council position, the ADT and chamber roles and his extensive business and exporting interests had been addressed, Mr Cleverley said.
Mr Jack has had extensive business experience in Timaru, Australia and the Middle East.
‘‘We have discussed the potential of any conflict of interest with the chamber board and Mr Jack, and when and if this arose, Mrs Fraser [the chamber's membership manager] or Mr Lyttle [chamber president Steve Lyttle] would step in.''
Mr Cleverley said a vibrant business community often contained people with a number of roles and managing any conflict of interest was a natural part of progress.
‘‘When and if it occurs, normal commercial practice is for an executive to put up his hand and absent himself from that particular business discussion and decision. That's what would happen in this organisation.''
Explaining his role, Mr Jack said an export cluster was a group of likeminded manufacturers, processors and businesses with common exportorientated marketing goals.
‘‘My principal role is that of a facilitator where the three principal cluster goals of information, education and networking can be delivered for the good of the local economy,'' Mr Jack said.
‘‘A survey eight months ago showed there was a need for an export cluster and so far we have 60 interested stakeholders. Such a diverse group needs a facilitator to maximise the benefits.''
He did not see his new positions as representing a conflict of interest with his elected council role.
‘‘But I discussed the role with the mayor [Timaru Mayor Janie Annear] before accepting the positions and she reminded me of normal council procedures that safeguarded such a circumstance.''
Mrs Annear said this week that it was Mr Jack's personal decision what employment he took on.
‘‘An individual must manage any potential conflicts of interest,'' she said.
