The Board of Directors

John Connor

Chairman

John Connor brings to the Board considerable corporate experience gained from more than 30 years in commerce and law. Joining global law firm Baker & McKenzie and becoming a partner in Chicago, John gained extensive experience in commercial, corporate and tax law. For many years, John practised in the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and elsewhere in Asia. During this time, John was responsible for founding and managing a number of offices and served on the Global Executive Committee for Baker & McKenzie. John graduated in law from the Universities of Melbourne and Chicago and has been admitted to practice in Australia, England, Hong Kong and the USA. John currently serves as the President for the Australia-ASEAN Business Council, and is the immediate past President of the Australia-Thailand Business Council.

Richard Cawsey, B Ec (Hon)

Managing Director

Richard joined the Centrepoint Alliance board in 2006 as a non-executive director. He became managing director on March 1, 2007, when former MD Rick Nelson moved to an executive role as deputy chairman.

Richard has almost 20 years' experience in financial services, including senior executive roles with St George Bank, NatWest Financial Products and the ANZ Banking Group. He is a former MD of US investment bank Morgan Stanley, working in Europe, the USA and Asia.

As a youth, between school and starting his university education at the Australian National University, Canberra, Richard spent four years as an underground miner in far north Canada. He says the experience was valuable in learning how to manage people, the importance of risk management and how critical good planning is in achieving goals.

Noel Griffin
Non-executive director

Noel has been involved in the refrigerated transport industry since 1966. He has had extensive experience in management, operation and ownership of transport and agri businesses. From 1982 to 1995, Noel was managing director of Refrigerated Roadways Pty Ltd which at one stage claimed status as the largest refrigerated carrier in Australia with assets of $74 million, annual revenue of $131 million, and 900 personnel. TNT acquired the company in 1995 and Noel served for two years on the executive council of TNT.

In addition to his interests in the transport industry, Noel was managing director and a shareholder of Table Grape Growers Pty Ltd from 1997 to 2001.

Noel is managing director of Prime Haulage Pty Ltd, a member of the Paccar Advisory Council and a life member of the World Presidents' Organisation.

Martin Kane, FAIBF, FAIM, MAICD
Non-executive director

Martin began his financial services career with Perpetual Trustees in Sydney before developing his financial services industry experience with a 20-years-plus commitment to National Australia Bank subsidiary Custom Credit Corporation Ltd.

Martin was exposed to all areas of Custom Credit’s operations before securing managerial positions at branch, state and national levels, including state manager consumer and dealer financial services WA.

Under Martin’s management, Alliance Finance developed from his initial start up of the company in 1991 to become a strongly growing listed financial services entity.

Peter Leonhardt is an independent company director and adviser who has extensive business, financial and corporate experience.

A chartered accountant, former senior partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers and managing partner of Coopers & Lybrand in Western Australia, Peter's professional career has spanned 36 years in Australia and internationally and included six years as a member of the national governing body of Coopers & Lybrand.

Peter is currently chairman of Carnarvon Petroleum Ltd and a director of CTI Logistics Limited, Titan Resources Ltd, the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research and a member of the advisory board of the Perth International Arts Festival. He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Australian Institute of Company Directors, of which he is a life member and former state councillor.

Richard (Rick) John Nelson, FAICD

Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chairman

Rick began his career in finance with AGC in 1972. After reaching the position of regional credit manager, he joined Australia’s largest Ford truck and car dealer, Denmac Ford, in the role of General Manager - Finance.

In 1982, Rick, with support from Denis McEniery, founded the Centrepoint Finance group. The business is now 25 years old and has expanded nationwide. Before 2005, Centrepoint Finance made two major acquisitions, resulting in the group becoming one of Australia's largest commercial finance brokers. It merged with Alliance Finance in 2005 to form Centrepoint Alliance, and Rick was Managing Director until he stepped aside to take on the Deputy Chairman’s role in 2007. He became CEO of the Commercial Finance business stream in April 2007.

Ian Magee, B Sc (Hons), CA, FCIS
Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer

Ian is a chartered accountant who began his career with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in London and was subsequently with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Australia. He has more than 20 years’ experience in CFO and company secretary roles in ASX listed, public and private Australian companies in a variety of industries. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries.Ian was CFO and company secretary with Alliance for more than two years before the merger with Centrepoint and has continued in the same role for the expanded group.