Over the past 30 years, David Blakey, who is now the chief executive at a business consulting firm, has supported many customers through exceptional challenges. These include the aftermath of the 1987 share market crash, the dotcom crash of the early 1990s, the 2007 global financial crisis and, most recently, the impact of COVID.
Helping people to recover from these crises then thrive has been a career highlight. During his professional life, David has held senior leadership roles in business banking, corporate and institutional banking, risk management and retail banking in New Zealand and the UK.
Others highlights include working with a hugely talented group of people who are also passionate about supporting their customers through good times and bad, and helping them achieve their goals, plus creating opportunities for talented young people and seeing them thrive. Now, he has been honoured by being appointed as a Senior Fellow.
FINSIA’s importance
David is committed to ongoing professional development. He has a Postgraduate Diploma in Banking from Massey University, a Masters of Business Administration from London Business School and has completed a course at the Institute of Strategic Leadership.
“I have always made a conscious effort to learn, grow and develop,” he says. “I think education helps you to become a more rounded person, both within and outside your career.”
David believes FINSIA will play an increasingly important educational role as the industry continues to undergo rapid technological, regulatory, economic and social change.
“We’re also seeing changes in customers’ expectations. Retail or institutional, they want someone who knows who they are and understands their situation,” he says.
“If we are to retain their respect, and the respect of our other stakeholders, we need to maintain high levels of professionalism through standards of behaviour and education. A professional body able to champion that is critically important.”
David’s advice to those hoping to forge a successful career in banking is to gain experience with as many different types of customers as possible.
“Observe, listen and understand the role the bank is playing to support them, whatever their size and context,” he says. “And don’t be afraid of putting yourself in a difficult situation because this is often when you learn most, not only about your customers but also yourself.”
Along with spending time with his family, David enjoys a wide range of water-based activities including sailing, windfoiling, paddleboarding, surf ski paddling and ocean swimming.
“I’m currently Rear Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, which takes up quite a bit of my time,” he says. “My wife and I are really looking forward to supporting Team New Zealand in this year’s America’s Cup in Barcelona. Apart from the excitement of the races, this is a unique opportunity for New Zealand’s marine industry to showcase itself in Europe.”