Catherine Savage has been appointed Chair of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, the Crown entity that manages the $30 billion New Zealand Superannuation Fund, effective 1 January 2016.

Ms Savage will succeed Gavin Walker, who has chaired the Guardians since 2012 and was first appointed to the Board in 2010. Mr Walker said he had resigned the Chairmanship with the intention of focusing on a smaller group of Board commitments. “The Fund is performing strongly and is well placed for the future. With a strong Board, experienced management team and a proven investment strategy, I feel I am leaving it in good hands.”

Ms Savage said she was delighted to be appointed Chair. “The New Zealand Superannuation Fund is a vitally important institution for our country, children and future generations,” said Ms Savage.  “My fellow board members and I take the responsibility of investing taxpayer money very seriously.”

Ms Savage said the Board remained committed to the Fund’s long-term investment strategies, leading approach to responsible investment and high degree of transparency.

Current Guardians Board member Lindsay Wright has been appointed Deputy Chair.

Catherine Savage has been a Guardians Board member since 2009, and Deputy Chair since 2012.  She is Managing Director of Savage Group Limited, Chair of the National Provident Fund, and an independent Director of Kiwibank, Todd Family Office, and Pathfinder Asset Management. Catherine was Treasurer of the National Gas Corporation from 1991-1993 prior to moving to AMP Capital Investors (NZ) Ltd where she held a number of senior management roles including Managing Director 2000-2007.

Lindsay Wright is currently Regional Head Institutional, Alternatives and Investment Solutions Business, Asia Pacific with Invesco Hong Kong Limited. Prior to joining Invesco Lindsay was CEO of Harvest Alternatives Investment Group and Co-CEO Harvest Capital Management Limited (second-largest funds management company in China). She has also held roles as Managing Director and Global Head of Strategy and Business Development for Deutsche Asset Management/DWS based in New York as a part of a 25 year career with Deutsche Asset Management and Deutsche Bank.  Lindsay is also on the Board of Directors at Kiwibank. She was appointed to the Guardians Board in 2012.

ENDS

Related information: Statement by the New Zealand Minister of Finance.

For further information and photos please contact Catherine Etheredge, Head of Communications, NZ Super Fund, cetheredge@nzsuperfund.co.nz + 64 274777 501, 64 9 366 4905.