New Chief Executive will keep Momentum moving!
Published on 21 October, 2023
Simon Wickham is the new Chief Executive Officer of Momentum Waikato, bringing an impressive background in commercial and for-purpose leadership to the community foundation dedicated to creating ‘a better Waikato for everyone, forever’.
Neil Richardson, Momentum Waikato’s Chair, is today announcing the appointment of Simon Wickham. He is also thanking outgoing Momentum CEO Kelvyn Eglinton, who is moving on after nearly six years in the role.
"Momentum Waikato has evolved in recent years under Kelvyn Eglinton’s excellent stewardship as CEO and we’re delighted to have someone of Simon’s calibre come onboard for Momentum’s next phase,” says Neil.
“I’m honoured,” says Simon, “roles like these don't come up often, with their unique blend of benefaction, commercial decision-making and great community impact.”
"Delighted to be joining the team at Momentum Waikato. I’m looking forward to working with some amazing people, brought together by a clear purpose to make a positive impact on the lives of people in the Waikato.
“They have driven some extraordinary fundraising, impact projects and giving back - it’s a real credit to their donors, trustees, management, and our team just how much progress they have made to date.
“Even more potential lies ahead, there are some exciting projects approaching and on the horizon. I’m really excited about the opportunity to add to the remarkable impact Momentum Waikato has already made on our local community,” says Simon.
Momentum Chair Neil Richardson welcomes new CEO Simon Wickham.
Neil says the Momentum Board undertook an extensive search and received an excellent response from a range of high-quality applicants.
“What stood out for us about Simon is his experience in both the commercial and community sectors and the impact he has made over a career in executive leadership.
“We are looking forward to the value Simon will add to our skilled team. His experience in leadership, stakeholder management and the strong positive response we had from past employers about his communication and strategic skills stood out, as well as his passion for making a difference to the people he serves.”
“We’re looking forward to Simon helping deliver our vision and developing and driving new strategy in the future with our team,” says Neil.
Simon starts with Momentum in January, once he has finished his current role as Chief Executive of leading local law firm Harkness Henry.
About Simon Wickham
Experienced Director, Chief Executive and leader, Simon is well versed in creating high performing engaged teams, developing business strategy and leadership, and aligning stakeholders and partners around strategy and a collective vision.
He’s particularly passionate about making a difference to organisations he serves. Before moving to the Waikato in 2019, he was named a laureate in the West Auckland Business Hall of Fame for services to commercial enterprise and the community, including the work undertaken as CEO at The Trusts to transform and grow profitability, team engagement and Giving Back to the West Auckland community.
In 2013 he and The Trust received the Dale Carnegie International Leadership Award, one of only four presented globally, for work transforming workplace culture at The Trusts.
In 2022 Wickham was awarded the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s highest honour, the Olympic Order for service to sport and the Olympic Movement in New Zealand, one of only twenty recipients over the NZOCs 100-year history.
Simon is the current Chair of the NZ Olympic Committee's selection panel for the Summer, and Winter Olympic Teams and the Commonwealth Games, a role he has held since 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
His executive career to date includes 23 years in Executive leadership including:
Chief Executive, Yachting New Zealand
Chief Executive, The Trusts Arena, Auckland
Chief Executive, Harkness Henry Waikato
Chief Executive, Baker Tilly Staples Rodway, Waikato
Chief Executive, West Auckland Trusts Services Ltd (The Trusts).
Simon also enjoys giving back having served on several Directorships to date in the sport and tourism sectors including:
Deputy Chair, NZ Olympic Committee
Director, High Performance Sport New Zealand
Director, Tourism Auckland
Chair, Gymsports New Zealand.
Complementing his well-practised strategy and leadership skills in executive and governance roles, he has also attended the Senior Executive Program at Stanford University and the Swiss Institute for Management Development (IMD) High Performance Leadership program and their Advanced Strategic management programs as well as a Harvard University Leadership in Law Executive Education program.
Simon made the decision in 2019 to relocate with his family, wife Helen and son Jake, to the Mighty Waikato, a move they have loved, as this is a region they identified as having great future potential. The well-grounded, connected and proud-but-humble approach to the way things get achieved here is something they certainly relate to.
As a family they enjoy scuba diving, boating, skiing, and the great outdoors. Simon has contributed to several organisations as a volunteer, including presently managing a local football team at Cambridge FC and regularly volunteering throughout winter as a member of Tukino Ski Patrol on Mt Ruapehu.
He also works with several businesses and organisations on their own strategy, leadership, and culture through his private consulting work in both profit and for purpose sectors as well to help leaders and organisations be at their high performing best.
