World Bank executive for regulatory role

By Phil Boeyen, ShareChat Business News Editor

Wednesday 12th December 2001

A New Zealander currently working for the World Bank has been appointed to the post of Telecommunications Commissioner.

Communications Minister Paul Swain has announced that Douglas Webb, an expatriate New Zealander, is to take up the specialist role, which will operate within the Commerce Commission. The appointment is for a five-year term.

Mr Swain says Douglas Webb has excellent credentials to lead the implementation of the new regulatory regime.

"An international lawyer and managing counsel with the World Bank, he will bring a broad intellectual capacity to the position.

"He has first hand experience of the New Zealand legal and telecommunications environments. Since then he has gained wide ranging regulatory and public policy experience at the World Bank designing legal structures and determining appropriate regulatory systems for a range of countries."

Mr Webb's previous experience includes three years with the Asian Development Bank and 16 years as a partner in legal firm Rudd Watts & Stone.

"His extensive experience will give the market confidence in his appointment," Mr Swain says.

"Although the Commissioner will perform a specialist role, he will receive full support from the Commission members and its staff."

Mr Webb is expected to begin his new job in March next year.

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