Rhiannon McKinnon previously served for three years as general manager of strategy and partnerships at Kiwi Wealth.
The New Zealand-owned and operated wealth and investment organisation Kiwi Wealth has appointed Rhiannon McKinnon to the role of acting chief executive.
The appointment makes 41-year-old McKinnon one of the youngest people ever appointed to lead a top 10 wealth and investment organisation in New Zealand. Kiwi Wealth has more than 220,000 KiwiSaver members and more than $8 billion funds under management. It is the largest New Zealand-owned KiwiSaver provider.
McKinnon previously served for three years as general manager of strategy and partnerships at Kiwi Wealth and, since arriving in New Zealand in 2007, she has worked as an executive advisor at Kiwibank and in corporate finance and investor relations at NZ Post. Her skill set also encompasses M&A, valuation, financial analysis, and equity research. McKinnon currently chairs Kiwi Wealth’s Responsible Investment Committee and is a member of its Inclusion and Diversity Committee.
UK-born McKinnon, who has Chinese and Welsh heritage and was educated at the University of Cambridge before beginning her career in investment banking with Cazenove and Morgan Stanley in the City of London, moved to New Zealand 14 years ago and has lived in Wellington for the past decade with her husband and their three young children.
McKinnon said: “I couldn’t be happier to see one more glass ceiling smashed, and I am proud that a part-time working mother, as I was until recently, was even considered for this role. I will be focusing on many aspects of the financial wellbeing of our members and investors, from financial literacy to responsible investment and equality.
“It is clear to me there are widespread shortcomings in our financial culture, notably in how we put the responsibility for retirement provision on individuals but don’t provide the tools and education, and in how financial advice is perceived, offered and accessed. This needs to change.”
Kiwi Wealth chair Gregg Behrens said: “Rhiannon ... is unequivocally the right person to lead Kiwi Wealth during this period. Rhiannon has a clear and ambitious vision not only for our business and customers but for the broader market and the financial interests of all New Zealanders, and we look forward to supporting her in fulfilling that vision.”
McKinnon has a Master of Arts in history from the University of Cambridge. She is a chartered financial analyst and has served three years on the board of the CFA Society of New Zealand. She has also been a board member of various not-for-profit organisations including Dress for Success Wellington, and government entities including the New Zealand Film Commission.
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