Bank of Baroda (New Zealand) Limited has announced the appointment of one of the most popular businesswomen and community leaders as a director on its board.
East Tamaki Health Care (ETHC) Director Ranjna Patel became the third non-executive director of the first Indian bank in New Zealand. Dr Rajen Prasad has been a director since the formative years of the Bank, while Wenceslaus Anthony joined the board last year (Indian Newslink, June 15, 2012).
Mrs Patel established ETHC along with her husband Dr Kanti Patel in 1977 as a three-person surgery, which has now grown to account for 18 primary care clinics, serving more than 140,000 patients in Auckland, with a complement of about 260 staff.
Awards galore
The Company won in a number of categories of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2009, including the ‘Supreme Business of the Year Award.
Mrs Patel won the ‘Best Businesswoman of the Year’ in 2011.
EHTC has won several other awards including the Westpac South Business Awards and several other industry-related awards. Queen Elizabeth II honoured Mr and Mrs Patel with Queen’s Service Medals in her New Year’s Honours List in January 2009.
Mrs Patel is involved with a number of organisations including the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women, Lottery Auckland Distribution Committee, Counties Manukau Police South Asian Advisory Board, Manukau Indian Association (Immediate Past President and Executive Committee Member) and Shree Swaminarayan Temple Papatoetoe (Trustee).
Great honour
Mrs Patel said that she was deeply humbled by her appointment to the board of Bank of Baroda (New Zealand) Limited.
“I am especially honoured to be in the company of Dr Prasad and Mr Anthony. I hope to bring a different set of skills to the Board, to see the bank grow in New Zealand. I thoroughly enjoy the challenges my other two ministerial positions have bought and hope to enjoy this unique opportunity as well,” she said.
Managing Director Navin Upreti said that Mrs Patel’s experience in building ETHC as one of the most admired institutions by its target segment will help to establish the Bank as an enduring organisation.
“Her Kiwi background, coupled with her roots in Gujarat, will bring a lot of value to our board of directors,” he said.
Dr Prasad said that Mrs Patel has brought a wealth of knowledge about the country (she is a third generation New Zealander) and the interests of the business and Indian communities to the Bank.
“I am particularly pleased to welcome Ranjna to the Board because of the respect she commands in the business and Indian communities. I am certain she will strengthen the Board and serve our target market admirably,” he said.
Mr Anthony described Mrs Patel as a great asset to the Bank.
“With her strong business acumen, leadership qualities and standing in the community, she will be able to add immense value to the Bank and its customers,” he said.
Read Ranjna Patel’s article on safety issues under Homelink in this issue.
