Auckland-based fund administration firm, MMC, has named governance heavy-weight James Ogden as its new independent chair.
Ogden, who was head of Macquarie NZ for six years until 2002, serves as independent member on the investment committee of Pencarrow Private Equity, which took a 50 per cent stake in MMC late last year.
He also currently holds a raft of high-profile board roles including at The Warehouse, Summerset, Vista, and Alliance Group following a long list of previous governance positions with the likes of Kiwibank, NZ Post and AMP Capital Property.
Ogden chairs the MMC board comprising managing director and chief executive officer – Robert Moss and Tom Reiher, respectively – along with Pencarrow investment director, Philippa Weston, and managing partner, Nigel Bingham.
Moss said as one of the country’s most accomplished directors Ogden would “provide invaluable help to MMC as we move forward in our next stage of growth”.
“As an independent chair, James will be responsible for guiding the board meetings to ensure that there are clear outcomes for management to implement, strengthening our existing governance culture,” Moss said.
In addition to his governance roles, Ogden provides specialist advice to private sector firms on investment strategies and mergers and acquisitions.
He has also been a member of the New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Committee since 2012.
Prior to launching his consultancy and directorship career Ogden served in both investment banking roles – with Macquarie and Credit Suisse First Boston – after an eight-year stint at senior levels in the NZ dairy sector.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand, Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Member of the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand Inc. and a former New Zealand Stock Exchange Broker.
In July this year MMC reshuffled its senior management with Moss stepping back from day-to-day duties to focus on strategy while Reiher, previously chief operating officer, took on the CEO position.
The firm, which launched a new registry function last year with fast-growing KiwiSaver schemes Simplicity and Generate as clients, reported total funds under administration above $30 billion at the end of May across 26 clients.
Last month MMC moved to new Queen St premises in Auckland.