Wellington, June 4 NZPA - Property and construction company Mainzeal has appointed chief operating officer Peter Gomm as its new chief executive.

Company chairwoman and former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said Mr Gomm had stabilised and greatly improved the performance of the company during his two years as chief operating officer.

Mainzeal was looking at opportunities to diversify the business in response to emerging investment intentions from the Government and private sector, Mrs Shipley said.

Options the company wanted to explore included joining with global strategic partners, broadening the scope of the business and investigating the potential of strategically targeted acquisitions.

Mainzeal is a subsidiary of Richina Inc, an investment and holding company with a focus on real estate centred on China.