CATHERINE SAVAGE
BCA (Acctg, Mktg, Finance), CA Managing Director, AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited
When Catherine Savage was appointed AMP Capital Investors' managing director at the tender age of 33, she became the global company's youngest, and only female, country manager. Five years later, that only-female mantle remains for the mother of three who splits her working days between Wellington, Auckland and Sydney. Savage graduated from Victoria University with an accounting degree but quickly realised she "never wanted to be an accountant". After managing the Natural Gas Corporation's treasury she began her tenure at fund manager AMP, where she was head of client relationships, before taking on the managing director role. In March 2007, Catherine resigned from AMP Capital to set up her own private equity company, CMS Capital.
Catherine is also a supporter of the YWCA Future Leaders Programme and a member of the NZ Institute.
ROSANNE MEO
OBE, Women's Suffrage Medal. BA, Dip BIA
Rosanne Meo is Chairman of Briscoe Group Limited, Chairman of AMP New Zealand and Deputy Chair of Baycorp Advantage. She is a director of Ports of Auckland, Overland Footwear Limited and the Bancorp Advisory Board and a Trustee of the Liggins Institute. She is the President of the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and actively involved in a number of not-for-profit organisations.
Rosanne was formerly Chairman of the AMP NZ Advisory Board, Television New Zealand, Forestry Corporation of New Zealand and the New Zealand Employee's Federation, previously a director of Sky Television, member of the New Zealand Roundtable and a trustee of Arts Foundation of New Zealand.
SALLY SYNNOTT
Sally Synnott is the founder of Pumpkin Patch. She started the company in 1990 at the age of 25 and was the Managing Director for three years before stepping back to spend more time with her family and only work on specific projects within the company. Sally is married to Mark and has three sons. She is no longer working in an executive role but is still a Director and shareholder of Pumpkin Patch. Sally also enjoys charity work and mentoring other young entrepreneurs.
SARAH KENNEDY
Originally qualifying and working as a Veterinary Surgeon, Sarah began specialising in nutrition and aquaculture at NRM Ltd, progressing from Nutritionist/Aquaculture Specialist through to General Manager. Her next move was to Tegel Foods Ltd as Business Manager – Retail Markets. Sarah joined Healtheries as Managing Director in 1998 and in 2003 completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School. In 2007 Healtheries and Nutralife were purchased by Next Capital Health. Sarah was made Group CEO, integrating the two companies to form ‘Vitaco Health Ltd’ which is now the third largest health and wellbeing company in Australasia.
In September 2009 Sarah resigned for personal reasons and is now on sabbatical with her husband in Europe.
Sarah is actively involved in the NZ Industry as a Board member of Export NZ, International Accreditation NZ and on the Advisory Board of the Auckland University Business School.
RICHARD YEOMANS
General Manager of Moët Hennessy NZ.
Richard moved to New Zealand in 2006 to help establish Moët Hennessy New Zealand. The Moët Hennessy portfolio of luxury brands includes Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Krug and Ruinart champagnes; leading premium sparkling wines, Chandon and Pelorus; the still wines of Cloudy Bay, Cape Mentelle and Domaine Chandon; as well as Hennessy cognac, Belvedere vodka, 10Cane Rum, and Glenmorangie single malt and Ardbeg Islay whiskies.
Having fallen in love with Champagne while working for a summer in the Moët & Chandon cellars while studying French, Richard joined the Moët Hennessy group in 2004 as a sales manager in the London Sales team. When the opportunity arose, Richard jumped at the chance to move to NZ with his kiwi partner. Richard has recently returned from a period based in the Sydney office. Prior to this Richard worked for L'Oreal and spent time living and working in Latin America.
Richard holds a double Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages, specialising in French and Spanish.