Deutsche Bank CEO named Outstanding Māori Leader

Media Release
27 September 2007

Deutsche Bank CEO named Outstanding Māori Business Leader

Investment banker Brett Shepherd has been named the Outstanding Māori Business Leader for 2007 by The University of Auckland Business School.

Brett Hiirini Shepherd (Ngāti Maru and Ngāti Tamaterā) is the Chief Executive of Deutsche Bank New Zealand and a celebrated business advisor to iwi and Māori organisations.

He joins entertainer Sir Howard Morrison, fashion designer Peter Loughlin and New Zealand Business Roundtable Chair Rob McLeod as a recipient of this premier award for Māori achievement in business.

Dr Manuka Henare, Associate Dean Māori and Pacific Development, says Mr Shepherd is an example of Māori achieving the highest levels of commercial success in New Zealand.

“He has excelled rapidly in a complex and competitive sector of our economy, while maintaining an interest in the economic prosperity of Māori by providing expertise on tribal business decisions,” Dr Henare says.

A prominent figure in the investment banking industry for two decades, Mr Shepherd was appointed CEO of Deutsche Bank in 2002.

He is a key participant in the mergers and acquisitions industry, acting as an advisor on recent major multinational transactions, such as Fonterra’s acquisition of San Lu Group in China, and Fletcher Building’s acquisition of the Formica Group.

He has led some of the largest merger and acquisition activity in New Zealand, including the formation of Fonterra Cooperative Group, New Zealand’s largest company, and the 50% acquisition of Contact Energy by Origin Energy.

He is a board member of the NZ Council for Infrastructure Development and the NZ Institute, and is an advisor to Black Grace, New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance company.

Mr Shepherd grew up in Hamilton and graduated from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Management studies with honours.

The Business School has sponsored the annual Outstanding Business Leader of the Year award since 2004, in recognition of Māori business success and to encourage Māori involvement in commerce.

Mr Shepherd received his award in the marquee on the grounds of Old Government House at The University of Auckland city campus on Wednesday, September 26.

Business School Māori alumni, academics, tribal leaders and business associates attended the award ceremony. Other awards presented were the 2007 Dame Mira Szászy Māori Alumni Awards and the 2007 Toi Ururoa: Kelly Scholarships.

ENDS

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