Sanford, the country’s biggest listed fishing group, has expanded its management team to kick off structural changes under new chief executive Volker Kuntzsch. The Auckland-based company’s senior managers are chief operating officer Greg Johansson, chief financial officer Clement Chia and chief people officer Claire Walker, rounded out by Kuntzsch, who took over the top job in December last year. The appointments …

Heartland Bank, which trades on the NZX as Heartland New Zealand, had its credit rating lifted a notch by Fitch Ratings, after the agency was impressed by its improved asset quality and stronger earnings. Fitch raised the Christchurch-based lender’s long-term issuer default rating to BBB from BBB-minus, its short-term rating to F2 from F3 and its viability rating to bbb …

The New Zealand dollar gained after weaker than expected US durable goods data weighed on the outlook for growth in the world’s largest economy. The kiwi rose to 79.25 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 78.98 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index advanced to 76.93 from 76.71 yesterday. The US dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of …