Te Pae Christchurch announces executive team

From left: Darren Tait, Vanessa McBean, Ben Buchanan, Ross Steele, Gillian Officer, Ken Davidson and Karine Legeay-Fisher

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has made several appointments to its senior team, all of whom are based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The team will be headed by general manager Ross Steele, and joining him are Karine Legeay-Fisher (event services), Ben Buchanan (business services), Darren Tait (culinary services), Vanessa McBean (human resources) and Ken Davidson (building services). Earlier last year, Gillian Officer was appointed director of sales.

From left: Darren Tait, Vanessa McBean, Ben Buchanan, Ross Steele, Gillian Officer, Ken Davidson and Karine Legeay-Fisher

Steele was appointed general manager in early 2019, and brings more than 20 years’ convention centre business experience to the role. Prior to joining Te Pae Christchurch, Steele managed the Cairns Convention Centre in Queensland for 12 years.

Legeay-Fisher has more than 25 years’ experience planning and delivering customer service excellence in international and local tourism, venues and event sectors.

Buchanan is a qualified chartered accountant whose career spans across a number of convention centres and entertainment venues.

Tait has more than 25 years’ senior management experience in both New Zealand and the UK, where he worked in country house hotels in Scotland and large function venues in England, as well as the largest entertainment venue in Christchurch.

McBean began her career in hospitality at the Regent Auckland Hotel more than 30 years ago. She has held various hotel operations and F&B management roles in locations across New Zealand. Before joining Te Pae Christchurch, she was the regional HR manager at Farmers for six years.

Davidson has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. He held the chief engineer role for leading local hotels, including the Novotel Queenstown and the Grand Mercure St Moritz.

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