ACC chair John Judge to step down as focus shifts to "rebuilding trust"

Tuesday 12th June 2012

Accident Compensation Corporation chairman John Judge will step down at the end of the month, after an "agreement" that he would see out the financial year to June 30, ACC Minister Judith Collins announced.

Judge's position has been under a cloud since the police declined to lay charges against an ACC claimant, Bronwyn Pullar, relating to a leak of private information by the corporation to her, which she allegedly threatened to publish. Judge had backed chief executive Ralph Stewart's decision to take the issue to the police.

The scandal brought about the resignation of ACC Minister Nick Smith, although the police decision is his first step on a possible return to Cabinet.

Prime Minister John Key dodged questions on the issue at his post-Cabinet press conference yesterday, referring all questions to Collins, who has until declined comment on the issue.

Her statement this afternoon says Judge's impending appointment as chairman of the ANZ National Bank, from June 23, is the reason for his stepping aside, but cited a need for the corporation to "refocus on rebuilding public trust and confidence.”

“I believe privacy and information security is now the number one priority for ACC," she said. Judge was appointed to the role as a new broom in March 2009, when the corporation was facing deep financial stress.

Former Commerce Commission chair Paula Rebstock, now a key player in the government's social welfare reforms, will take over as ACC chair on July 1.

"To complete the financial year for ACC it has been agreed that Mr Judge will remain as chair until 30 June 2012," said Collins. "Mr Judge’s new role is a significant appointment and will require even more of his time than his current role as a director."

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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