Board of Directors

Meet our Board of Directors.

 Steven Fyfe (Chairman)

BCA; CA; FFin.

Steven was appointed a director of The Co-operative Bank in October 2011. Based in Wellington he's an independent Director and Business Consultant.

Steven recently retired from a 29 year career with the ANZ National Bank group in New Zealand. During that time he was a Director and Chief Financial Officer of The National Bank from 1997 to 2004, and was Deputy CEO of ANZ National Bank from 2009 to 2011. His banking experience includes substantial periods operating in and managing the retail banking, insurance, business banking and finance activities of ANZ National Bank.

His early career was with a chartered accounting firm including stints in London and New York. Steven is a Trustee of the Red Cross Foundation and a Director of several family business companies.

 Sam Robinson

B.Ag.Sc (Hons)

Based in Hawkes Bay, Sam Robinson was appointed a director in December 2006.

He knows first-hand the value and contribution of successful co-operative enterprises, as both a member and director of agri-business co-operatives, for many years.

He chaired Richmond Ltd until its takeover by PPCS, leading that company through a period of significant M & A growth, and setting its new strategic direction - the transition from meat processor to export 'food company'.

Sam has strong governance experience, holding directorships on a number of other boards, including AsureQuality, and the lines company, Centralines. He is also chairman of AgResearch and was previously a board member on Farmlands, a rural supplies co-operative.

Sam is a member of the Audit and Risk Review Committee and the Appointments and Remuneration Committee of the board.

 Joanna Perry

MNZM FCA (NZICA), FCA (ICAEW), FFin, MA Econ (Cantab)

Joanna has been a director since 2006. Based in Auckland, she is an independent director and chartered accountant.

She's currently the deputy chairman of Genesis Energy and independent director of Kiwi Income Property, Trade Me, Partners Life, Sport New Zealand and New Zealand Rowing. She's also an adviser to the Board of Tainui Group Holdings, an independent member of the Audit Committee of the Victoria Auditor-General's Office, and a member of the Investment Advisory Panel of the Primary Growth Partnership.

Joanna is a member of the Interpretations Committee of the International Accounting Standards Board. She's also a member of the Policy Advisory of Finsia.

Joanna was previously a KPMG New Zealand partner for 17 years, a member of the Securities Commission for 11 years and a member and then chairman of the Financial Reporting Standards Board for 15 years.

Joanna is the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Review Committee of The Co-operative Bank board, as well as a member of the Finance (risk) Committee of the board.

 John Isles

John has been a director since 1988.

Based in Wellington, John has an MA (Hons) from Canterbury University, a Wool Certificate from Lincoln, and now works as a professional director.

His experience is spread across co-operatives, finance, agriculture, insurance and manufacturing.

He's a director of Woolyarns Group, Australasia's largest fine-woollen system spinner, Interweave (executive chair) PrimePort Timaru, and Medical Assurance Group (deputy-chair) - a similar 80-year-old co-operative.

In the public sector he is a member of the advisory board of Development West Coast, is on the Rulings Panel of the Electricity Commission, is a Crown negotiator for two iwi settlements, and is a former chairman of the New Zealand Apple and Pear Board and Radio New Zealand.

John is a member of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee and Chairman of the Finance (Risk) Committee of the board.

 Paul Goulter

Paul has been a director since 2009.

Wellington based, Paul has considerable experience working in both finance and education unions as well as national union centres on both sides of the Tasman.

He worked in the finance sector union Finsec for 20 years including nine years as General Secretary. He was Secretary of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions for three years from 2000, joining the CTU after finishing his role as at Finsec.

Paul was appointed National Secretary for New Zealand's largest education union, NZEI Te Riu Roa, in 2008. Prior to that he worked as Director of the Australian Council of Trade Unions' Education and Campaign Centre based in Sydney.

Paul is a member of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee of the Board.

 Dianne Kidd

B.A., Dip Teaching

Dianne is based in Helensville and has been a director since 2009.

She has over 25 years of commercial experience in the NZ funds management industry and is Deputy Chairman of the industry superannuation peak body Workplace Savings NZ. Prior to becoming an independent director, Dianne was Head of Wholesale Distribution at ASB Group Investments Ltd.

Farming Sheep & Beef with her husband for over 30 years, Dianne maintains strong interests in the NZ rural and health sectors, and involvement in her local community. She holds a directorship with AsureQuality Limited and is Chairman of IRIS Limited (owned by the Cerebral Palsy Association). She is also Chairman & Trustee of the Helensville District Health Trust.

Dianne is a member of the Audit and Risk Review Committee of the board as well as the Finance (risk) Committee.

 Peter Ellis

BSC (Hons) Agric.

Based in Hastings, Peter has been a director since 2009.

Peter has over 20 years experience working in senior management roles for multinational companies involved in agriculture and alcoholic beverages. Since 2007 he has been CEO of Farmlands Trading Society Ltd, the North Island's leading rural merchandise distribution co-operative.

Peter has held key roles involving strategic and operational change, purchasing, manufacturing and export.

He is currently responsible for Farmlands' business strategic direction, financial performance and the company's 400 staff operating from over 40 locations throughout the North Island.

Peter is a member of the Audit and Risk Review Committee.

 Ross Wilson

B.A. LL.B.

Based in Wellington, Ross was appointed a Director of The Co-operative Bank in October 2011.

Ross has a long-standing interest in co-operatives and, following 10 years in private legal practice, led rail and port unions from 1979 until his election as President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions from 1999-2007.

He has strong governance experience, both of unions and as a Director of Port of Wellington Limited and Kiwi Rail Holdings Limited. He was also the Chairman of the Accident Compensation Corporation between 2007 and 2009.

Ross is currently Executive Chair of Unions Aotearoa International Development Trust (UnionAID) and is involved in a number of international projects including the development of producer co-operatives in South India. He also works as a private Mediator and Consultant, and is a co-author of New Zealand’s leading legal text on employment law.