Richard Ballantyne has made a significant contribution to business and industry in Christchurch over many years.
Since the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, he has demonstrated his ongoing commitment to the Christchurch community by taking on an influential leadership role with regard to the revitalisation of our city.
Mr Ballantyne, who was educated at Medbury School and Christ’s College, graduated from the University of Canterbury in 1970 with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce degrees and has had a lifelong connection with the retail industry in Christchurch. For 45 years he worked at J Ballantyne and Co Ltd, the department store which has been owned by his family since 1872. He was the store’s Managing Director for 16 years, from 1996 to 2011, and is currently a board member.
Since the Canterbury earthquakes, Mr Ballantyne has been among those instrumental in leading the revitalisation of the city. He has been one of those involved in the planning and the rebuild of the central business district, taking part in the development of Christchurch’s innovative Re:START container mall.
Mr Ballantyne is a board member of the Canterbury Community Forum, a past board member and life member of the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, a life member and past president of the New Zealand Retailers’ Association, a past-president (Canterbury Division) and Fellow of the Institute of Management, a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors. He is a former board member of the Christchurch Central City Business Association.
Additionally, Mr Ballantyne is actively involved in a number of organisations in the wider Christchurch community, among them the Cholmondeley Children’s Home Foundation and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. He is the chairman of the St Barnabas Church Rebuild Appeal. Former community service has included the Laura Fergusson Home Trust, the Medbury School Trust Board and the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation.
In the 2014 New Year’s Honours, he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of his services to business and the community.
Citation authorised as true and correct at December 2014.
