Join us in congratulating the most recent property people appointments, promotions and moves, brought to you by Assemble Recruitment.
Kāinga Ora appoints internal leader Tracey Taylor as Chief Executive
Kāinga Ora Board has appointed Tracey Taylor, currently Kāinga Ora’s Chief People and Assurance Officer, as the incoming Chief Executive.
Tracey will start in the role on 18 December 2025, succeeding Matt Crockett, who leaves on 17 December.
The Board was delighted to appoint Tracey following a robust and highly competitive recruitment process that involved a search across New Zealand and Australia and attracted strong interest. Tracey was the stand-out candidate after a rigorous process.
Ben McLaren appointed as Russell McVeagh CEO
Russell McVeagh are delighted to share that Ben McLaren will step into the role of Chief Executive Officer from 1 December.
Ben has been an integral part of the leadership team for the past six years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. He brings over 16 years of law firm management experience across New Zealand and Australia and has played a key role in many of the firm’s strategic initiatives.
At the same time, they farewell Jo Avenell, who will be leaving the firm at the end of November after seven years of exceptional service and leadership as CEO. Jo has led the firm through a significant period of growth, disruption and transformation. They are deeply grateful for her outstanding contribution and wish her all the best for the future.
Rajan Hira appointed as a Director at Chow:Hill
Chow:Hill Architects are thrilled to announce that Rajan Hira, Senior Principal, has been appointed as a Director.
In his words:
“I’ve stepped into the role of a Director at Chow:Hill Architects. At 41, this feels less like a personal title change and more like an opportunity to keep doing what matters most to me: supporting people. That means the people we design for, and the people I’m fortunate enough to work alongside every day.
When I joined the company in 2018, it was the practice’s socially conscious projects that drew me in. What’s kept me here is the culture —collaborative, people-focused, and grounded in the idea that architecture is about creating spaces that help us connect, heal, and thrive.
This new chapter is about building on that foundation: shaping environments that have real purpose, making the design process engaging and fun, and creating space for our team to bring their best selves to the table.
I’m looking forward to shaping the future!”
Congratulations, Raj, for such a great achievement!
Have an appointment or new hire to share?
Send us a brief paragraph of less than 150 words, or a link to a news story or media release, along with an accompanying photo of the person being featured, and we'll include you in our next edition of On the Move.
Share My News