Life goes on

 

From McGredy Winder & Co

BEWS-HAIR JOINS MCGREDY WINDER

James Bews-Hair, Len Brown’s Chief Policy and Political advisor through his two terms as Mayor of Auckland is joining McGredy Winder & Co as GM Strategy and Advocacy, Director Peter Winder said today.

Mr Winder said “James, an economist, brings with him a wealth of experience of the various levels of interaction between central and local government and the private sector. James has a unique mix of skills and experience having worked in Central Government, the Parliamentary Opposition, the corporate sector, for an industry association and local government (both rural and metro).”

“James was the architect of the political strategies behind Mayor Brown’s successful campaigns to secure funding for the CRL and to progress the alternative transport funding needed to develop

Auckland’s transport system. James is currently assisting the incoming Mayor of Auckland to establish and bed-in his office” Mr Winder said. James joins ex Auckland Regional Council Chief Executive Peter Winder and a strong group of associates to expand the scope of what McGredy Winder & Co can offer. James will help our clients understand decision-makers and decision-making, and navigate the corridors of power both in Auckland Council and Wellington.

“We believe that the resulting combination of solid policy and organisation management capability with seasoned political insights will offer our clients significant value”, Mr Winder said.

McGredy Winder & Co started in 2010 with the aim of providing wise advice and creative solutions to central and local government and those needing to engage with them. Since then, McGredy Winder & Co. has carved out a strong niche, working closely with councils up and down the country. Amongst consulting assignments as varied as running Queens Wharf for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, improving the way that Environment Canterbury processes water consents, and developing an economic development strategy for Hawkes Bay, Director Peter Winder has just completed 4 years as one of the Commissioners governing the Kaipara District Council.

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Talking Southern Auckland wishes James all the best in his new ventures while giving thanks to his time during the Len Brown era. I think one of the more memorable quotes about James comes from Whale Oil where Cameron Slater rather infamously referred to Bews-Hair as the Master of the Dark Arts. Yes that brings a wry smile.

 

None-the-less I wonder what James Bews-Hair would have done to current Mayor-elect Phil Goff given Goff is taking forever to pick his Deputy Mayor. One thing about Len was it was super rare to be dawdling to the extent Goff is now (see: Goff Fails Acid Test and Commits Fatal Error in Selection of Deputy Mayor #VoteAKL)