Wellington, July 13 NZPA - Accounting firm Grant Thornton New Zealand has appointed Kerry McDonald as its independent chairman.

Among his roles, Mr McDonald is chairman of Opus International Consultants, a director of the NZ Institute of Economic Research and several companies, president of the Institute of Directors and a trustee of WWF New Zealand. He was previously Comalco New Zealand managing director and chairman of BNZ.

Grant Thornton New Zealand said it was the first of the five major global accounting firms in this country to appoint an independent director as chairman.

"We believe that bringing an external view to the board table is a major and necessary step as we develop our business in New Zealand," Grant Thornton New Zealand chief executive Wayne Jackson said.