The two new directors are Kristen Kohere-Soutar and Juliet Tainui-Hernandez.
Ngāi Tahu Holdings is excited to announce the appointment of two new directors to its board – Kristen Kohere-Soutar (Ngāi Tahu – Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāti Rakiamoa, Ngāti Waewae, Ngāti Wheke; Ngāti Porou; Rongowhakaata) and Juliet Tainui-Hernandez (Ngāi Tahu – Ōnuku, Te Whakatohea).
Both highly experienced directors are joining the Ngāi Tahu Holdings board for three-year terms.
Kohere-Soutar was previously chair of Whai Rawa, the Ngāi Tahu savings scheme, until joining the board of global professional services and investment corporation Mercer New Zealand in 2017. She was appointed chair of that board in January this year.
Ngāi Tahu Holdings board chair Mark Tume said “Kristen and Juliet are highly skilled and experienced across multiple sectors. Their tohungatanga (expertise) will be invaluable for Ngāi Tahu Holdings as we focus on optimising our performance in what is a very challenging economic environment.
“I am excited to welcome Kristen back to a role within the Ngāi Tahu Group. As well as a strong background in the finance and investment sectors, she is deeply committed to Māori, currently holding a board position for Ngāti Porou Holdings and having developed KiwiBank’s first Māori banking strategy earlier in her career.
“Her governance knowledge and insight also saw her appointed earlier this year as chair of Mercer – a highly regarded financial institution. She also brings specialist knowledge to contribute across many of our businesses, having been with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise where she facilitated exports in the mānuka honey, seafood and wool sectors.”
Juliet Tainui-Hernandez
Tainui-Hernandez, a corporate lawyer qualified in Aotearoa, Australia (New South Wales), England and Wales, is returning from London where she is a partner, the chief compliance officer, and director of transformation at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright LLP. She started her career working for Ngāi Tahu in the predecessor to the current strategy and influence team, which manages Crown relationships to ensure Treaty obligations are upheld.
She has recently been announced as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s newest assistant Governor and general manager of transformation and people, a role she will take up on her return to Aotearoa later this year.
Tume said: “Equally, Juliet brings to the table vast leadership and governance expertise, especially in risk management and compliance, operations, business transformation and growth. Her experience is truly global having worked in the legal sector in Aotearoa, Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.
“Juliet is returning home from London, where she has been responsible for advising the firm and overseeing compliance across its 26 offices in the UK, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Brazil. She has also been in charge of leading the transformation of Norton Rose Fulbright’s business operations.
“Kristen takes up her position on our board this month and Juliet joins us in December. Their combined governance and leadership backgrounds make them hugely valuable members of our team.”
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