Nigel Scott

Nigel has a passion for growing privately owned New Zealand businesses. As a director and shareholder in a range of private businesses, he firmly believes that best practice governance has a critical role to play in this.

Nigel has over 30 years of experience in the NZ and UK financial markets, with significant depth in the key areas of wealth management, equity and debt capital markets, structured finance, risk, and investment management. Before becoming a professional director, he was an Executive Director at Hobson Wealth and the GM of ANZ Private Bank for 6 years.

Nigel has broad knowledge and depth in governance best practice, having served on boards and chaired risk, project and product committees. He is currently a Director and the Interim CEO at BoardPro, Chair of the Peninsula Credit Fund, Director of Kōura Wealth, the VC fund Punakaiki, and a Board Trustee of the Auckland Foundation. Nigel also sits on two investment committees and is a member of Business Mentors and the Institute of Directors, having completed his director qualification through the AICD. He has completed executive courses at MIT, Columbia University, Darden Business School and Duke University.

Nigel says he was quite honoured when Bruce asked if he would be the independent chair of GS, knowing that ‘he has quite the Rolodex when it comes to quality people!’

‘Joining the board was a no-brainer for me.’

Nigel and his wife, Cathy, are avid cyclists and travellers, and he enjoys fishing too. Nigel and Cathy have been to around 50 countries and have combined their love of cycling with their passion for travel over the last few years. They biked across Croatia a couple of years ago and, last year, cycled across the Rocky Mountains. This year, they biked from Hobart to Launceston and are about to head off to cycle across Bosnia and around Montenegro. Some famous climbs for the Tour de France are also in their sights for next year.

Nigel has known Bruce and the other partners for several years and has invested in some of the deals that GS has originated. Bruce also gave Nigel a desk when he stepped out of his last executive role, so he knows Bruce and the team well, having spent time in the office.

When Nigel is looking to join a board, he told us, it’s a very considered decision. He is looking for a unique business where he can learn as much as he can contribute. Nigel likes the very distinctive vibe GS has and the way the team conduct their business. Many firms have the usual values, vision and mission statements but don’t live them well. GS genuinely walks the talk and wants to see every client succeed, whether their goal is personal, professional, financial or all three. The holistic way GS looks after its clients makes a real difference for him.