Our Governance

Directorate

Trustees Executors is governed by a Board of Directors with a range of commercial experience and a deep understanding of the special fiduciary responsibilities involved, they are:

Sarah Roberts

LLB (Hons), Chair

Sarah was appointed as Chair of the TEL Board in July 2018. A sole legal practitioner, she has more than 30 years’ experience in the commercial sector. She has advised many major institutions on a variety of acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures and takeovers and is currently serving as a trustee for the University of Auckland Foundation. As former National Chair of legal firm Buddle Findlay and most recently Chair of the Public Trust, she has significant financial services and governance experience.

Sarah is a graduate of the University of Victoria in Wellington (LLB (Hons)) and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Matthew Sale

BCom (Marketing) and DipGrad (Finance)

Matt has more than 15 years’ experience in financial and trustee services industries, having held senior leadership roles at BNZ, NAB and Public Trust encompassing strategy, brand, marketing, sales and organisational transformation.

He is a graduate of the University of Otago (BCom (Marketing) and DipGrad (Finance)) and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Mark Darrow

C.A., B. Bus, Accounting, Business

Mark is an experienced businessman and professional director, specialising in corporate governance. He has a number of board roles in many sectors including financial services, investment, infrastructure, FMCG, transport, agriculture, health and education. His experience covers listed and private companies, Crown entities and charitable trusts.

He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Chartered member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, and is also a Justice of the Peace.

Group Leadership Team

Ryan Bessemer

Chief Executive Officer, PLDA (Harvard), GCBA, MAICD, AACS

Ryan joined Trustees Executors as Chief Executive Officer in April 2018. Previously he served as COO of Equity Trustees, Australia’s largest independent trustee company. Ryan has over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, with a strong focus on general and technology management, investment operations, project management and people management. He has a proven track record in delivering successful business growth through organic growth initiatives and M&A.

Ryan has completed the Programme for Leadership Development (PLDA) at Harvard Business School, where he was selected to achieve lifetime Alumni status.

Stuart McLaren

Chief Financial Officer, BCom, CA

Stuart has over 20 years business management and accounting experience in the service, wholesale and retail industries. He has a further 12 years involvement in product and service administration and development across various industry sectors. Stuart joined Trustees Executors in 2009 and leads the both the corporate finance and trust administration & accounting teams as well as supporting the business units in various financial matters, projects and advisory services.

Paul Waaka

General Manager, Distribution & Marketing

Paul joined Trustees Executors in 2018. Originally from Lower Hutt, Paul comes to TEL from Equity Trustees in Australia where his most recent role was National Business Development Manager. Prior to that he worked for AAS which is part of Link Group of Companies. With over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Paul has an extensive background in business development and building key client relationships, this coupled with his significant experience in financial administration means his skill set will further enhance TEL’s client and service offering.

Matthew Band

General Manager, Corporate Trustee Services, BCom, INFINZ (Cert)

Matthew was appointed General Manager in May 2018, having joined the Corporate Trustee Services team in Auckland in January 2005. Prior to this he held banking, treasury, fund administration and operations positions in the finance sector in New Zealand and in the UK. He has had previous experience supervising Managed Investment Schemes, Non-Bank Deposit Takers, Debt Issuers and Retirement Villages.

Josh Sinclair

General Manager, Service Transformation & Enablement

Josh joined Trustees Executors in 2018. Josh is responsible for delivering future focused changes for the Trustees organisation. He has 18 years’ experience working in technology and digital roles in the financial services and healthcare sector including KPMG, Westpac, FNZC, HHL Group and BNZ.

Sarah Thorpe

General Manager, Human Resources, BA

Sarah joined Trustees Executors in 2018. Sarah is a commercial HR leader with 20 years’ experience across the full breadth of Human Resources capability. Sarah brings to Trustees Executors extensive experience in leadership coaching and growth, strategic workforce planning, change and transformation, culture, talent management and project delivery. She has a diverse background across a number of different industries including Financial Services, Technology, Telecommunications and Public Sector.

Geoff Cheeseright

General Manager, Investment Administration

Geoff was appointed General Manager, Investment Administration in 2019. He originally joined Trustees Executors in 1996 and from 2001 managed the Custody team servicing the Funds Management industry. Prior to Trustees Executors, Geoff worked in the Banking and Financial Services industry in Wellington.

Justin Fox

General Manager, Private Wealth, PGDip, InterBus. ANZIFF, (Senior Assoc) CIP

Justin is responsible for leading the Private Wealth team, which includes Investments, Trust and Estate planning services. He has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services and other growth industries, most recently in the retirement sector. Justin brings wide ranging experience and proven track record at leading large network business units, building high performance teams and delivering strong growth objectives across service distribution channels. He has extensive strategic and people leadership, experience in developing key commercial partnerships and is passionate about delivering a great client experience.