Meet the people overseeing Tower
Michael Stiassny
Chairman (LLB, BCom, FCA, CFInstD)
Non-Executive Director
Independent
Michael holds both a Commerce and Law degree from the University of Auckland and is a Chartered Fellow and past President of the Institute of Directors. Michael has enjoyed a high-profile governance career and is currently Chairman of 2 Cheap Cars Group Limited, and Director of Momentum Life Insurance Limited, Tegel Group Holdings Limited, and New Talisman Gold Mines Limited.
With a keen interest in fostering successful next generation New Zealand businesses, Michael also dedicates significant time to start ups and championing entrepreneurship through his involvement in Founders Advisory.
Appointed: 12 October 2012
Last re-elected: 2023
Board committee memberships: Chair of Tower Limited, Chair of Remuneration and Appointments Committee, Member of Audit Committee and Risk Committee
Appointed Chairman: 21 March 2013
Graham Stuart
Non-Executive Director (BCom (Hons), MS, FCA)
Independent
Graham is an experienced director, based in Auckland. His current directorships include Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and Independent Director of NorthWest Healthcare Property Management Limited, Director of VinPro Limited and non-executive director of Tower Limited.
Graham has over 30 years’ experience in senior executive and governance roles in New Zealand and internationally. These include the Sealord Group of which he was Chief Executive Officer for 7 years. Prior to that Chief Financial Officer and Director of Strategy for the Fonterra Co-operative Group, Managing Director of Lion Nathan International and CEO of Mainland Products.
Graham has a Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Hons) from the University of Otago, a Master of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Graham has served on a number of Government bodies including the Food & Beverage Taskforce, the Maori Economic Development Panel and he Chaired the Lincoln Hub Establishment Board.
Graham resides in Auckland, New Zealand.
Appointed: 24 May 2012
Last re-elected: 2019
Board committee memberships: Chair of Audit Committee, Member of Risk Committee and Remuneration and Appointments Committee
Marcus Nagel
Non-Executive Director
Non-independent
Marcus has significant insurance industry experience. For a decade he has performed senior leadership roles for Zurich in Europe and globally. In his last role at Zurich, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Zurich Germany managing both life insurance and general insurance businesses
He has also held the position of Vice Chairman of the joint venture with ADAC, Germany largest Automotive Club, Chairman of the direct insurer DA Direct and Chairman of the life insurer, Zurich Deutscher Herold. Prior to that he also managed the independent financial adviser/broker business for Zurich Global Life.
Marcus holds a Masters Degree in Banking and Finance from Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany and Master of International Management from the Arizona State University Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, United States of America. Marcus was nominated by Bain Capital Credit LP (Bain Capital) to represent Bain Capital’s stake in Tower (Bain Capital hold 19.99% of Tower’s ordinary shares) and his appointment was supported by the Tower Board.
Marcus is based in Switzerland.
Appointed: 14 January 2019
Last re-elected: Appointed on a casual basis subject to election at 2019 ASM
Board committee memberships: Member of Audit Committee, Risk Committee, and Remuneration and Appointments Committee
Geraldine McBride
Non-Executive Director
Geraldine joined the Tower Board effective October 1, 2022. She has extensive governance and technology industry experience, having performed Board and senior leadership roles both in New Zealand and internationally, with Sky Network Television Limited, SAP, Dell, and IBM. Geraldine is the founder and CEO of MyWave.
Appointed: 1 October 2022
Mike Cutter
Non-Executive Director (BSc (Hons) GAICD)
Independent
Mike Cutter has extensive governance and executive experience in the financial services sector across New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and Europe. He is currently the Chair of Arteva Funding, a non-executive Director of Pepper Money and, is a co-founder of credit risk management consultancy, Kadre.
Most recently, Mike served as interim managing director for Bambora Australia and group managing director for Equifax ANZ. Previously, he served a number of Australian-based boards including Women's Cancer Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Institute, Australian Financial Congress, National Insurance Brokers Association and the Australian Retail Credit Association. Prior executive roles include CEO of OAMPS Insurance Brokers (now Gallagher), GE Money Australia and New Zealand and, CRO of ANZ Australia.
Mike is based in Melbourne and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a senior fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Hertfordshire University.
Appointed: 17 November 2023
Board committee memberships: Member of Audit Committee, Risk Committee, and Remuneration and Appointments Committee