About the Panel

The Takeovers Panel has announced the appointment of two new Panel members. Michael Pollard, a partner at Simpson Grierson, and Sarah McEwan, a partner at Buddle Findlay, have been appointed as members of the New Zealand Takeovers Panel.

Mr Pollard and Ms McEwan are both corporate lawyers with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions and capital markets. 

Current Chair of the Panel, Carl Blanchard, and long-serving Panel member, Sacha Judd, are departing the Panel.

In addition to the new Panel members, the Panel has announced the appointment of a new Chair and Deputy Chair. Former Deputy Chair, Anna Buchly, has been appointed Chair of the Panel and Panel member David Goatley has been appointed as the new Deputy Chair.

New Chair Anna Buchly said, “We are delighted to welcome Michael and Sarah to the Panel. Their wealth of experience in complex public market transactions will strengthen the Panel’s ability to safeguard fairness and integrity in New Zealand’s takeovers market. I would like to thank Carl Blanchard for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the Panel and extend my sincere thanks to Sacha Judd for her valuable service as a Panel member. We look forward to building on their work with Michael and Sarah as part of the team”.