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Board of Directors

Ken Swain


Chairman & Independent Director

Ken commenced his career in the Financial Service industry in 1967 and was one of Australasia’s top advisors for over 40 years. During that time Ken achieved many milestones including Qualifying & Life Membership of the Million Dollar Round Table for over 30 years.

He was recognised for having the leading General Agency business in Australasia for the AXA (now AMP) group in 1998. Having served as National President of the Life Underwriters Association of NZ (now IFA) and pushing for a national licensing regime Ken was delighted to see the new professional standards that are now required under the FMA.Ken established Swain Financial Services which had branches throughout the South Island and a New Zealand wide network.

Since retiring in 2009 Ken has remained involved in the industry serving as Chairman and Director of several SME’s and acting as an advisor/mentor to a number of organisations. Ken is enthusiastic about the opportunity of assisting Lifetime to reach it’s true potential as New Zealand’s leading integrated financial services business.

Ken is married and living in Queenstown. He and his wife Jenette have two adult children and 5 grandchildren. He enjoys tramping and skiing with his grandchildren, playing golf, fishing, boating and overseas travel.

M: 021 792 465

Steve Byrne


Independent Director

Steve acts as an Independent Adviser to a range of businesses, and has extensive involvement in providing financial, strategic and governance advice to clients. Steve has had a 36 year career in the banking industry both in New Zealand and offshore across a wide variety of roles including Head Office credit specialist, branch banking, business banking, senior leadership roles, and a member of the New Zealand Business Banking Leadership team.

Steve established his own business advisory practice in 2008 and is currently acting in an advisory capacity to a number of medium to corporate business clients. In addition he holds Independent Directorships on two Boards.

Steve is passionate about Lifetime Group’s growth and achieving its goal of being a leading player in the insurance and finance industry whilst ensuring we retain the ability to provide quality advice and personal client service that has underpinned the Groups development to date.

Steve is a Harness Racing enthusiast and enjoys golfing and boating when relaxing with his family.

T: 03 377 1952

Allan McNaughton


Argent Adviser & Director

Allan kicked off his career in the financial services industry in the 1980’s and is a CLU, an AFP, an AFA and holds the NZ Diploma in Life Insurance. Whist being an active member of the Lifetime Group Board, his passion remains working with clients. Meeting their individual needs, seeing their life goals being fulfilled and ensuring this happens in a hassle free, professional manner is what makes him passionate about his work.

Allan was also one of the founding members of ALF (the Argent Lifetime Foundation) and has been an active participant in the foundation’s cornerstone event – the ALF Golf Charity day – for over 10 years.

To add to his focus of giving back, Allan is the current Chairman of Certus Trust; an organisation which since its inception has granted in excess of $186,000 to assist New Zealanders to better improve their quality of life.

Allan is married with three children and enjoys spending time with the family travelling together.

T: 03 372 1912
M: 021 240 0400

Steve Shrigley


Independent Director

Steven Shrigley joins the Lifetime Board with an extensive accounting and financial services background. After completing several years as a financial controller for a large computer company, Steven and his family returned to New Zealand to commence a career in the financial services industry.

Initially Steven helped individuals and corporates with their risk management and investment requirements. Tower Life then purchased his two trading entities which resulted in a senior management position and directorship within Tower Life. In 1994, he was head hunted by Sovereign where his role eventually grew into managing the territory from Hawkes Bay to Invercargill for adviser distribution. He achieved outstanding results for Sovereign and helped coach many of the industry’s top advisers.

Steven continues to coach several of New Zealand’s well respected and professional advisers. In his spare time he enjoys public speaking.

Steven and his family love everything Canterbury has to offer and weekends are often spent on Banks Peninsula either diving for crayfish or exploring the rugged coastline from the sea.

M: 027 397 2210

Mark Russell


Independent Director

Mark studied at Canterbury and Cambridge Universities before lecturing in company and banking law at the University of Canterbury for four years. Mark went into legal practice in 1985, with Weston Ward & Lascelles, some partners of which left to form Brookman Stock (a boutique commercial firm) in 1986. Brookman Stock merged with Buddle Findlay in 1989 and Mark was a partner in the Christchurch office of Buddle Findlay for 25 years before joining the Bar as a commercial barrister at the beginning of 2015.

Mark specialises in company, banking, commercial and insolvency law. Major examples of Mark’s work in recent years include: – Prospectus and compliance advice to a number of finance companies and one moratorium process for a finance company– Advising several forex dealing companies on statutory compliance issues– Acting for Wools of New Zealand Limited on public share offer– Devised corporate structure for Central Plains Irrigation Scheme. Mark also holds governance appointments. He is a director of Diligent Board Member Services Inc, a New York based company listed on NZX and is also an independent member of the Christchurch City Council Audit & Risk Management Committee.

Mark is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Mark is available to act as an arbitrator in commercial disputes and he is an Associate of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of NZ.

Mark is also involved in the not-for-profit sector as a trustee of Volunteer Army foundation.

M: 021 499 231

Roger Abel


Director

Roger’s passion for commerce and nurturing business growth was sparked early on in his professional life - elbow deep with business owners and senior managers, selling advertising for a publishing business.

He entered the financial services world with AMP in 1987, the same month as the infamous share market crash of ‘87. And five years later invested in a business called Rothbury.

Rothbury was a business with a history dating back to 1950, it had only a handful of staff and just one office. Today he spends most of his time leading the business, with over 200 staff, 15 locations New Zealand wide and several different businesses/brands, however he still spends time with clients when the opportunity arises.

Over the years Roger has been involved in many regional mergers and acquisitions, growing a robust business that he will always be passionate about. This includes the strategic partnership between Rothbury and Lifetime, with Rothbury now the cornerstone shareholder.

Roger is a boating enthusiast, enjoys a hit of tennis, and lives Auckland’s North Shore with wife Anna and son Zach.

T: 09 526 8320
M: 021 952 230