Deloitte Top 200 Award Winners Announced for 2019

5 November 2019 – Mainfreight’s Don Braid has reinforced his reputation as one of New Zealand’s most successful executives, being named Executive of the Decade at the 2019 Deloitte Top 200 Awards in Auckland tonight (5 December 2019). Mainfreight was also named Company of the Year, sponsored by Deloitte Digital and Marsh.

Chosen from New Zealand’s top companies, this year’s Deloitte Top 200 award winners and finalists have been recognised for their focus on shaping the future; led by executives thriving on the opportunities presented by innovation and globalisation.

In other awards this evening Mercury CEO Fraser Whineray was awarded Chief Executive of the Year, sponsored by Deloitte and ServiceNow, while Dame Fran Wilde was named Visionary Leader sponsored by NZ Herald Premium.

Awarding the Executive of the Decade to Don Braid, judging panel convenor New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) Head of Business Content Fran O’Sullivan said, “The judges were unanimous that amongst a group of other high-performing CEOs over the past decade, Don Braid stood out as the most deserving of this recognition. Mainfreight has demonstrated that a company founded on kiwi values can succeed with a focus on people and hard work. Leading the way has been Don Braid.”

Naming Braid’s Mainfreight, Company of the Year, judge Neil Paviour-Smith commented, “Mainfreight reported one of the standout performances of the 2019 year with strong growth in operating earnings in the international regions it operates in.”

Chief Executive of the Year Fraser Whineray has shown “an excellent track record, having delivered record earnings for Mercury along with solid dividend growth. Fraser is highly regarded and is motivated to contribute to New Zealand’s long-term success, ” said Neil Paviour-Smith.

Awarding the Visionary Leader accolade to Dame Fran Wilde, Judge Dame Alison Paterson said, “Dame Fran is a truly remarkable leader who has been absolutely instrumental in helping lead New Zealand’s course with her tremendous vision, bold leadership and proven ability to get things done.”

Given the focus on businesses shaping the future, the Sustainable Business Leadership accolade awarded to Air New Zealand, sponsored by MinterEllisonRuddWatts, carries a special significance in 2019. “More so than ever, organisations that successfully balance all stakeholder needs will be those that thrive into the future” said Deloitte Chief Executive Thomas Pippos.

Reflecting on the 30-year history of the Deloitte Top 200 Awards, Thomas Pippos said, “The calibre of businesses and their ability to deliver to their communities and stakeholders has improved significantly over the past three decades. They make a huge contribution to the sustainability of our business community and the regional communities in which they operate.”

NZME Chief Executive Michael Boggs paid tribute to all of tonight’s winners and Deloitte Top 200 finalists, “These companies and the teams that drive them represent the finest businesses in New Zealand. We should all be incredibly proud of not only what they have achieved but how they have gone about it.”

The awards would not be possible without the support of award partners Eagle Technology, University of Auckland Business School, Hobson Leavy Executive Search, 2degrees, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Marsh, ServiceNow, Deloitte Digital, New Zealand Herald Premium and OneRoof.co.nz.

2019 Deloitte Top 200 Award Winners

Deloitte Digital and Marsh Company of the Year

WINNER: Mainfreight

Finalists:

·        Meridian Energy

·        Delegat Group

Deloitte and ServiceNow Chief Executive of the Year

WINNER: Fraser Whineray – Mercury

Finalists:

·        David Mair – Skellerup Holdings

·        Volker Kuntzsch – Sanford

University of Auckland Business School Chief Financial Officer of the Year

WINNER: Grant Ellis – Restaurant Brands Ltd

Finalists:

·        Rob Hamilton – SkyCity Entertainment Group

·        Phillippa Harford – Infratil

Hobson Leavy Executive Search Chairperson of the Year

WINNER: David Pilkington – Port of Tauranga

Finalists:

·        Pip Dunphy – Transpower New Zealand

·        Graeme Milne – Synlait Milk

MinterEllisonRuddWatts Sustainable Business Leadership

WINNER: Air New Zealand

Finalists:

·        Mercury 

·        Z Energy 

2degrees Best Growth Strategy

WINNER: Datacom Group

Finalists:

·        Xero 

·        Scales Corporation 

Oneroof.co.nz Most Improved Performance

WINNER: The Warehouse Group

Finalists:

·        WEL Networks 

·        SkyCity Entertainment Group 

Eagle Technology Young Executive of the Year

WINNER: James David – Datacom Group

Finalists:

·        Amelia Rentzios – OMV New Zealand

·        James Magill – Genesis Energy

Diversity and Inclusion Leadership

WINNER: Downer Group

Finalists:

·        Spark

·        Stuff

NZ Herald Premium Visionary Leader

WINNER: Dame Fran Wilde

Executive of the Decade

WINNER: Don Braid – Mainfreight

About Deloitte Top 200

29 Years of Business excellence. The Deloitte Top 200 Awards were established in 1990 and are held annually to recognise and applaud outstanding individual and management team performances among New Zealand’s largest companies and trading organisations. From the Top 200 index, significant contenders are identified for a series of awards. As Deloitte has varying professional relationships with many of the Top 200 organisations, it is not involved in determining the Top 200 awards finalists or winners. An independent, thorough and comprehensive judging process follows with the winners announced at a black tie event held annually in November/December.

About NZME

NZME is a leading New Zealand media and entertainment business that reaches more than 3.2 million kiwis. Whether reading, listening or watching, our audience gets the content they want - where and when they want it. NZME offers advertisers a unique opportunity to access its growing audience via a fully integrated multi-platform presence. NZME is listed on the NZX Main Board (code NZM) with a foreign exempt listing on the ASX (code NZM). www.nzme.co.nz