Innovative thinker gets the nod

Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Simon Challies is an innovative thinker whose time at the helm of Ryman Healthcare has been critical to the firm's success, says David Kerr, chairman of the retirement village operator.

Presented for the first time this year, the Leadership Award focuses not only on key performance measures such as ebitda and total shareholder returns, but also critical elements that deliver sustained growth, such as building company culture and strong engagement with employees, Infinz says.

Kerr says Challies - who joined Ryman in 1999 as chief financial officer and became chief executive in 2006, before being appointed managing director in 2010 - has "wonderful emotional intelligence" in addition to conventional intellect.

"He's very good at forming a team and getting them to share a common goal," he says. "He continues to look at innovations within the package we offer."

The judges said Challies had performed strongly across all the judging criteria.

"Under his leadership Ryman has pursued a very successful business model which has delivered very strong and sustainable returns and outperformed its peers," the judges said.

The company, which operates more than 20 retirement villages, has delivered total shareholder returns of 1600 per cent since its 1999 listing on the NZX, according to its latest annual report.

Underlying profit grew from just over $10 million in 2002 to almost $90 million last year.

The judges also noted the solid stakeholder relationships that existed between Challies and the firm's employees, suppliers and customers, as well as the community.

Kerr says a large part of Ryman's success can be attributed to Challies' leadership skills.

"He's known around all the villages as Simon from Ryman and he has a very good informal style about him that encourages people to approach him without fear and trepidation - he's a very popular managing director."