BusinessDesk and Range Rover bring back the CEO Index

BusinessDesk’s CEO Index has returned for a second year, this time adding two new categories to its leadership ranking. 

The index launched last year as a partnership between Range Rover and BusinessDesk, and was developed by Special PR. It pairs the car brand’s ’Lead by example’ positioning with BusinessDesk’s editorial strength to assess New Zealand’s business landscape. 

The index will be compiled by an independent panel of judges, with experience across the spectrum of business and government, and including BusinessDesk senior journalists. They will rank CEOs against five values: vision, impact, innovation, resilience and influence. The criteria, inspired by Range Rover’s brand belief, allows the judges to evaluate the attributes that make a leader genuinely great and an example to others. 

The categories

This year includes two new judging categories: Professional Services CEO of the Year, recognising leaders in law, accounting, consultancy, and related fields; and a Judge’s Choice award for a person who is not necessarily a CEO but has made an outstanding contribution to the business landscape and NZ’s economy and society. 

The five returning categories, with their 2025 winners are: Startup CEO of the Year, won by Mario Wynands of PikPok; Listed Company CEO of the Year, won by Rod Duke of Briscoe Group; Public Sector CEO of the Year, won by Christine Stevenson of NZ Customs Service; and Private Company CEO of the Year and the overall CEO of the Year, both won by Richard Taylor of Wētā Workshop. 

Successful editorial platform

General manager of the Authorised Importer for Range Rover in New Zealand. Ben Montgomery says: “What started as a simple idea for a definitive list of New Zealand’s most influential business leaders has turned into a genuinely successful editorial platform. 

“The entire NZME team really embraced it, bringing integrity to the Index, curating the right leaders, and building something with real longevity. For Range Rover, the alignment around leadership is a completely natural fit. We’re looking forward to finding out this year’s deserving winners as they are revealed.” 

BusinessDesk publisher Matt Martel says, “We’re excited and delighted to launch the BusinessDesk CEO Index, driven by Range Rover, for a second year. These awards are special: finalists are suggested by our own newsroom – you can’t nominate yourself or put your company forward. 

“We’re looking for leaders with a clear long-term strategy, measurable outcomes beyond just the financial, and real influence and reputation among their peers.”

Set the bar high

Managing director of Special PR, Kelly Grindle, adds: “After a successful inaugural year, we’re thrilled to help bring the CEO Index back for a second year, expanding it to recognise more industry leaders. It’s a demonstration of what a genuine media partnership can look like, pairing a credible title with an engaged audience with a luxury brand whose clientele are predominantly business leaders that set the bar high.” 

Over the coming weeks, BusinessDesk will reveal the 25 most influential CEOs leading by example in New Zealand through a dedicated content series, building towards an invitation-only awards ceremony in Auckland in early September.