Meridian’s record result lifts Verbiest to top spot

Mark Verbiest CFInstD has taken the top spot in September’s The Boardroom Table rankings, moving ahead of Alison Gerry CFInstD after Gerry held first place and Verbiest second for three consecutive months.

Datamine, the data and analytics company that produces the table, attributes the change largely to recent results from Meridian Energy and Air New Zealand. Verbiest chairs Meridian Energy and Summerset. Gerry chairs Infratil and is a director of Air New Zealand.

Meridian reported EBITDAF of $1.05 billion for the year to 30 June, up 72% from $611 million and the first time it has passed $1 billion. Datamine says the result was helped by catchment inflows running at 122% of the historical average, reversing the drought conditions that affected the company the previous year.

Two days later, Air New Zealand reported a $336 million loss before tax for the 2026 financial year, compared with a $164 million profit the year before. Revenue rose 3.9% to $7 billion, but operating costs increased 11.8%, including higher fuel, maintenance and aviation system charges.

Datamine says all five Air New Zealand directors represented in The Boardroom Table moved down the rankings. Dean Bracewell MInstD dropped to 24th (from 21st), Laurissa Cooney CMInstD to 29th (from 19th), Neal Barclay MInstD to 31st (from 25th) and Claudia Batten MInstD to 66th (from 64th).  

Taulelei jumps 24 places

Mercury also reported EBITDAF for the year rising 36% from $786 million to a record $1.07 billion.

Four of the five Mercury directors included in The Boardroom Table moved up the rankings, according to Datamine.

Rachel Taulelei CNZM, MInstD, a director of Mercury and The Warehouse Group, climbed 24 places from 43rd to 19th – the biggest move this month.

Datamine attributes most of that rise to Mercury’s result. It also points to The Warehouse Group, whose share price had risen 18% over the previous month ahead of its full-year result later in September.  

Taulelei was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in December 2025 for services to business, Māori and governance. 

Four new directors enter the rankings

Lauren Quaintance CMInstD, Sophie Haslem CMInstD, Graham Stuart and Simon Bennett MInstD joined The Boardroom Table this month, all entering in the lower half of the rankings.

The Boardroom Table draws on data from more than 200 sources, including financial metrics, media perception and customer and employee sentiment. Datamine says it measures the relative impact a director has made to their company during their tenure.

To be eligible, directors must hold at least two current New Zealand public-company directorships, or one current directorship and one held within the previous 18 months.  

The September 2026 full rankings are available at theboardroomtable.com.