Meet the Team
These are the people who carry your investment function, and who you will deal with directly.
Jeremy Ward
Head of GOCIOJeremy Ward brings more than two decades of experience in institutional funds management, with responsibility for asset allocation, portfolio construction, investment management and governance across diversified multi-asset portfolios. His background spans senior investment roles in London and New Zealand, including oversight of equities, fixed income, private markets and alternatives within disciplined risk frameworks. Jeremy has served on investment committees and led manager selection and portfolio design processes grounded in clear structure and long-term stewardship. He focuses on building repeatable, well-governed investment frameworks that let advisers keep client ownership while operating to institutional standards.
Davy Ma
Investment AnalystDavy Ma works across asset allocation research, quantitative analysis and portfolio construction within diversified mandates. His experience includes manager due diligence, performance and risk analytics, and the practical execution of multi-asset portfolios across market cycles. Davy makes sure portfolio decisions translate cleanly into implementation, with mandates monitored and refined through a disciplined, repeatable process. His work supports consistent governance and steady portfolio management behind the scenes, so advisers can focus on leading client relationships.
Simon Leach
Head of DistributionSimon Leach is a distribution and commercial leader with deep experience building and scaling investment businesses in New Zealand. He has led national distribution functions across investment businesses, working closely with financial advisers, institutions, and governance bodies to drive growth, strengthen partnerships, and deliver client-aligned outcomes. Simon has designed and launched investment propositions from the ground up, with a particular focus on aligning product, distribution, and client needs, balancing commercial performance with disciplined governance and transparency. He holds an Executive MBA and a Bachelor's degree in Management.
GoCIO Investment Committee
GoCIO's Investment Committee provides oversight and strategic guidance to our investment team, so that every portfolio decision is tested against client mandates and our documented investment process before it is implemented. The Committee meets at least quarterly, and more often when markets or mandates require. Its standing responsibilities include:
- Reviewing and approving the strategic asset allocation and tactical ranges for each model portfolio
- Approving additions to and removals from our Approved Issuer List, on the investment team's recommendation
- Approving any material change to investment strategy, policy or process
- Monitoring portfolio performance and risk against benchmarks and client mandates
- Reviewing liquidity, stress testing and scenario analysis
- Overseeing all related-party transactions
Nick Bowden
Committee ChairNick is an investment professional with more than 25 years' experience in global financial markets across New York, London and Auckland. He currently serves on the Investment Committee of Generate Investment Management, contributing to portfolio strategy and macroeconomic analysis for KiwiSaver funds with more than $8 billion under management. Previously, Nick held senior roles with Balthazar Capital in London and Auckland, including as a director and portfolio manager of Balthazar Capital Partners, where he managed multi-asset portfolios, led investment sourcing and oversaw compliance with the UK Financial Conduct Authority. His career spans portfolio management, equity sales and financial accounting. Nick holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Auckland, and is a Member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.
Alana Barron
Independent Committee MemberAlana is a capital markets professional with more than 25 years' experience across New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong and the United States. She was most recently Head of Private Wealth Clients at Alvarium Wealth, and before that a Director, Institutional Equities at Jarden. She previously held various equity research sales roles with Deutsche Bank in Sydney and Hong Kong, and earlier in her career served as Trade Commissioner and Consul for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise in New York. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Otago, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors' Course, and is a Member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand. Alana was Precinct Properties' inaugural Future Director in 2023 and currently serves on the St Cuthbert's College Board of Trustees and the Kings College Foundation Investment Committee.
Derek Janssen
Committee MemberDerek is an investment professional with more than 20 years' experience in equities research and fund management. He spent the bulk of his career, from 2007 to 2023, at Fidelity Investments, one of the world's largest asset managers, where he managed small-cap strategies with combined assets of around US$10 billion, including the Fidelity Small-Cap Value, Small-Cap Discovery and Series Small-Cap Discovery funds. His portfolios invested across all sectors in the United States and internationally, focused on identifying companies positioned to deliver favourable long-term returns to shareholders. Derek holds a Master of Arts in Statistics from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University.
Henry Tongue
Committee MemberHenry has more than 20 years' experience in funds management, KiwiSaver, investment oversight and financial-services leadership. As co-founder and Chief Executive of Generate since 2012, he has overseen the development of the Generate KiwiSaver Scheme, Generate Unit Trust Scheme and Generate Wholesale Scheme, and serves as a director across the Generate Group and as a member of its Investment Committee and Risk Management Committee. In 2007 Henry co-founded Huljich Wealth Management which managed the Huljich KiwiSaver Scheme and Huljich Unit Trust Scheme before being sold to Fisher Funds in 2011. As Senior Portfolio Manager he was responsible for Australasian equities, New Zealand fixed income, asset allocation, hedging strategy and external manager selection. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (Finance and Commercial Law) from the University of Auckland and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Otago, and is a member of the Financial Services Council's Investment and KiwiSaver Committee, INFINZ and the Institute of Directors New Zealand.
Jeremy Ward
Committee Member, Head of GoCIOJeremy leads GoCIO's investment team, portfolio construction and manager selection, bringing more than two decades of international investment-management experience across multi-asset portfolios, equities and institutional mandates. He was previously Portfolio Manager, Wealth at Alvarium Wealth, responsible for portfolio construction, asset allocation and governance for DIMS portfolios, and Director of Wealth Research at Jarden, where he chaired the Global Equity Investment Committee. In London, Jeremy was Director and Senior Multi-Asset Portfolio Manager at Coutts & Co, directing multi-asset portfolios exceeding £20 billion and leading investment committees, asset allocation and manager selection, following earlier roles at Newton Investment Management and BNY Mellon. He holds a Bachelor of Business Studies (Finance) from Massey University and the Investment Management Certificate (CFA UK), and is an Associate Member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.