The owner of a failed employment agency that left creditors more than $2.8 million out of pocket has been banned from managing companies for eight and a half years.

The Companies Office has prohibited Cassandra Hope Knox from acting as a company director or being involved in the promotion or management of companies for eight years and six months from 25 May 2026.

The ban relates to Trinity Employment Services Limited and Elite Employment Limited.

Trinity Employment Services, which had offices in Timaru and Rolleston, was placed into liquidation in May 2024 while it was still trading.

Knox was the sole director and held a 95 percent shareholding in the company.

Elite Employment Limited was registered just three hours after Trinity was placed into liquidation.

According to the Companies Office, Knox continued trading without sufficient regard to financial pressures or creditor interests.

Both companies were liquidated following Inland Revenue applications.

The Companies Office said tax debts were largely unpaid, although there was a partial recovery of Inland Revenue debt in one liquidation.

The liquidator of Trinity previously confirmed Knox had been reported to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment over potential Companies Act offences.

The ban was imposed under section 385 of the Companies Act 1993, which allows the Registrar of Companies to prohibit people from managing companies where their management contributed to a company failure.

The Companies Office said the provision is designed to protect the public and creditors, reinforce standards of company management, and support confidence in New Zealand’s company regime.

Knox is now prohibited from acting as a director or taking part in the management or promotion of companies until late 2034.