Bay of Plenty community funder BayTrust has a new leader, with Alastair Rhodes appointed chief executive following a recent organisational restructure.

Alastair replaces current trust manager Bruce Cronin, who retires next month after more than 18 years of service.

Newly announced BayTrust chief executive Alastair Rhodes with BayTrust chairperson Jenny Mahoney. Photo: Supplied.

Amid a restructure earlier this year it was announced yesterday Bruce's role of manager has been disestablished and replaced with chief executive – Bruce indicating the new role doesn't interest him.

BayTrust chairperson Jenny Mahoney says they're thrilled to have Alastair join the BayTrust team.

'He brings a wealth of commercial acumen, strategic leadership and passion for change to the organisation.”

Alastair, the current Rotorua Airport chief executive, says he and his family have embraced the Bay lifestyle since relocating from Auckland 18 months ago.

'My wife and I believe this is one of the best places in the world to raise a family.

'We live on a lifestyle block between Tauranga and Rotorua with our two young daughters, and they've already collected a menagerie of animals. We're all loving it and are committed to the region.”

Alastair was appointed Rotorua Airport chief executive in February 2013.

With a long and distinguished career primarily in the aviation sector, Alastair sees this new role as an opportunity to transfer his skills and experience from the commercial to the philanthropic sector.

'I believe there are so many opportunities for the Bay to continue to grow and thrive.

'The sum of the whole of the Bay of Plenty is definitely bigger than its individual parts and that's why the BayTrust job interested me.

'I believe I can play a key role to help unite and enhance our different communities as collaboration across the Bay is critical to our future success as a region.”

His first few months will be spent meeting the many and varied stakeholders in the region, and strengthening his understanding of the strategic direction of the Trust.

'BayTrust is a well-respected organisation, with an experienced and proactive Board whom I am looking forward to working with.

'I'll be asking a lot of questions, listening to the answers and thinking about the implications in order to help shape future opportunities for the Trust and our wider community.”

One of the challenges he admits to facing will be working through and understanding the different needs and requirements of a very diverse and large region.

'I believe BayTrust has a unique opportunity in that it can take a very long term view of how we can best assist the community with the Trust having $180m in assets and distributing over $3m in grants to the community each year.”

Jenny pays tribute to Bruce's 18 years of service, joining in 1997, saying the community is losing an advocate and champion.

Formed in 1988 as the Trust Bank Bay of Plenty Community Trust the organisation makes grants to community groups serving the Bay of Plenty, in order to help build, strengthen and enhance present and future BOP communities.

In the year to March 2013 the BayTrust paid out grants totalling more than $2.546m to groups serving Bay of Plenty Communities.