Board of Directors

Sir Michael was appointed Founder President in 2015 in recognition of his special connection with Michael Hill for over 35 years. He led the company as Executive Chairman from 1987 until December 2015.

Skills and experience

Sir Michael had 23 years of jewellery retailing experience before establishing Michael Hill in 1979 which then listed on the NZ Stock Exchange in 1987. Sir Michael’s visionary leadership has been the foundation for the company’s successful international expansion. In 2008 he was recognized as Ernst Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” and in 2011 was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and the arts.

Sir Michael led the Group as Chair from 1987 until December 2015.

Rob has been a Director of Michael Hill International Limited since January 2014. He was appointed by the Board as Chair in June 2021.

Skills and experience

Rob served as CEO of Air New Zealand between 2005 and 2012, a period that saw a resurgence in Air New Zealand to become one of the most recognised and awarded airlines in the world and one of the best performers in a tough industry. On New Year’s Eve 2020, Rob was appointed as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and tourism

Other directorships 

Air Canada
Fitout Solutions Limited
Hammerforce Limited

Board Committee membership

Emma has been a Director of Michael Hill International Limited since February 2007. She was Deputy Chair in 2011 and  Executive Chair between 2015 to 2021.

Skills and experience

Emma has over 30 years’ experience with the company commencing on the shop floor in Whangarei, New Zealand. She held a number of management positions in the Australian company before successfully leading the expansion of the group into Canada as Retail General Manager in 2002.

Board Committee membership
 

Gary was appointed to the Board in November 2012.

Skills and experience

Gary has had extensive directorship experience. He is currently Chairman and member of the Audit and Remuneration committees of Flight Centre Travel Group Limited, one of Australia’s largest 100 public companies which operates in 23 countries and is one of the world’s largest retail and corporate travel providers. He is also a director of National Roads and Motorists Association Limited (the NRMA), Australia’s largest member-based organisation with over 2.6 million members offering a variety of member services and operating a range of diverse businesses, where he is also a member of the Audit and Risk Management committee as well as the Finance and Investment committee. This follows an extensive executive career in tourism and hospitality development and management.

Gary is Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Other directorships and offices (current and recent)

Flight Centre Limited (Chair)
National Roads and Motorists Association Limited 

Board Committee membership

Daniel was appointed to the Board in June 2021.

Skills and experience

Daniel joined Michael Hill International as the CEO in November 2018. He has more than 25 years’ experience managing some of the world’s most iconic brands. He has an extensive background in corporate strategy, brand development, product design, customer engagement, digital expansion and has been instrumental in executing turnaround initiatives across many retail businesses.

Dave was appointed to the Board in August 2023

Skills and experience

Dave has considerable brand, data, technology, omni-channel retail and digital transformation experience. He is a Founder of Lexer, a global software company helping brands and retailers genuinely understand and engage their customers. In 2015, Dave became the youngest ASX 200 Non-Executive Director when he joined the board of Myer. Previously, Dave spent 10 years with global advertising group M&C Saatchi in a number of local and international leadership roles, culminating in three years as Managing Director in Australia. Prior to joining M&C Saatchi, Dave was the first employee of a marketing services group that built four digital service and software businesses.

Other directorships

Myer Holdings Ltd
Lexer Pty Ltd

Independent, non-executive director
Claudia was appointed a Director of the Company on 30 August 2024.

Skills and experience

Claudia started her professional career at law firm Russell McVeagh specialising in contract, IP, and technology law before moving to New York in 2002. Claudia was a member of the founding team of Massive Incorporated, a network for advertising in video games which helped pioneer “digital” as a media buy. Massive was sold to Microsoft in 2006, where Claudia spent 3 years scaling the in-game network. In 2009 she co-founded Victors & Spoils, the first advertising agency built on the principles of crowdsourcing which was acquired by French holding company Havas Worldwide just two years later.

Claudia has been widely recognised for her work supporting the technology and start up scene in New Zealand and spent three years running North American operations for NZTE, supporting disruptive thinking for the growth of NZ exports in North America.

Claudia is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington with degrees in Law (Hons) and Commerce.

Other directorships and offices (current and recent)

Air New Zealand Limited
Vista Group International Limited
Serko Limited (Chair)