Brian Gibbons

Brian Gibbons has been the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Automobile Association since 1990 when New Zealand’s 15 independent motoring clubs merged into one national body. The formation of the NZAA was the culmination of a series of mergers that had begun eight years earlier following Gibbons’ appointment as Chief Executive Officer of AA (Central) Inc.

Prior to joining the NZAA, Gibbons had extensive experience in financial and managerial roles in the motor vehicle industry and later with Boots Pharmaceuticals. He then became the General Manager of AA Central, one of the 15 independent AA clubs in New Zealand, and was charged with encouraging those diverse clubs to merge into a single organisation, the NZAA.

His goal since then has been for the NZAA to provide consistent service throughout the country and to grow membership. He has introduced a new range of club services relevant to motorists, including: driver licensing, insurance, tourism guides, loans, a loyalty programme, technical repairs, vehicle inspections and industry awards.

This diversification – together with his philosophy of holding membership subscription rates, building strategic commercial partnerships, effective brand management and database marketing – has seen NZAA membership more than double to 1.6 million in the time that he has been CEO. The NZAA now represents 54% of licensed New Zealand drivers – or one household in two.

Gibbons holds board directorships in a number of NZAA subsidiary and joint venture companies. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration degree from Victoria University of Wellington, and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He is also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and a Justice of the Peace.

In 2009, Gibbons was appointed as the Deputy President for FIA Automobile Mobility & Tourism, a position which he held until 2017. In 2017 he was appointed President of the FIA Senate for a 4-year term.

He is married to Sue, with whom he has five adult children. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand, and enjoys a number of outdoor recreational pursuits.