ASB Bank, Potentia and Hairy Lemon pick up 2011 CIO awards

Winners announced at CIO Awards dinner in Auckland

ASB Bank chief operations officer Russell Jones (photo below) was named CIO of the Year at the CIO Awards dinner last night. Jones took the award, sponsored by NetApp, for leading significant organisational and cultural change in one of the largest IT teams in New Zealand.



“Our people and culture are why we lead in technology and this award was earned by a unified technology team committed to delivering the innovations for which we are renowned,” he says. “We’re investing further in our technology team development, to grow capabilities and deliver a significant programme of work over the next five years.”

Connon Daly (photo below), manager of the IT team at Hairy Lemon Web Solutions took away the Emerging ICT Talent award, sponsored by Hudson ICT. The award recognises ICT professionals under 30 and was given to Daly for getting IT systems up and running a week after the Christchurch earthquake in February.

“Connon impressed us with his leadership potential, commitment to his customers and forward thinking into how he could improve the services his company offered through the application of new technology,” the judges said.

The third and final award of the evening went to Potentia (photo below), for tackling issues around the approaching technology talent shortfall. The company took away the Excellence in IT Recruitment Award, sponsored by ITCRA.

“Potentia is educating appropriate graduates, encouraging qualified immigration and calling for action through political channels. The company also has very strong connection with its market place,” the judges said.

Recruitment company Sead received a special commendation for initiatives such as the ‘Getting IT Right’ website.

More than 500 people attended the CIO Awards last night at the Sky City Convention Centre, in Auckland. The awards ceremony was part of the 2011 New Zealand CIO Summit, presented by CIO magazine, IDC New Zealand and conference company Bright Star. This year’s edition of the CIO summit will end later today.