Former Citibank and Diners Club senior executive takes the helm at GFG Group

4 April 2007

Former Citibank regional director and Diners Club Australia managing director, Grant Halverson, has been appointed chief executive officer of New Zealand-based payment solutions company GFG Group.

GFG Group chairman Ralph Green says the new appointment signals further strong international growth for the card and mobile payments software company and also Grant Halverson's return to New Zealand, where he began his business career, at LD Nathan and later at NZI Bank.

We're delighted to welcome someone of Grant Halverson's international finance and banking experience to the top job at GFG. And with our product development based in New Zealand it's a bonus that we've been able to attract such a high-flying New Zealander back to the country.

Grant Halverson replaces interim chief executive Anthony Howard, of technology investment advisers Howard & Co, who remains as a GFG Group shareholder and board member.

Grant Halverson joins GFG Group from the research and advisory company McLean Roche where, as a founding partner, he helped establish a multi-million dollar research and advisory company specialising in payment systems, credit cards, retail banking, funds management, insurance and related technologies operating in Europe, Asia and North America.

Previous management positions include regional executive director for Citibank Asia. Responsibilities included potential business acquisitions and strategic options for the world,s largest bank.

Prior to Citibank Asia, Mr Halverson was Managing Director of Diners Club Australia for 11 years. From 1982-1988, Mr Halverson held a range of management positions with NZI Bank in New Zealand. He was a member of the Senior Executive Committee of the Bank, General Manager Consumer Banking, and General Manager Diners Club.

Recently, Mr Halverson served on a Financial Services Committee advising the Prime Minister of Australia on developing strategies to make Sydney a regional financial services centre. He Is a member of the Sydney Institute, a think tank based in Sydney, and an executive mentor in the Melbourne Business School.