Board of directors
Peter Polson - Chairman
Peter Polson was appointed Chairman of Challenger in June 2004. Previously, he held the position of Group Executive, Investment and Insurance Services at the Commonwealth Bank, where he was responsible for all investment and insurance services for the group. Mr Polson retired from the Commonwealth Bank in October 2002. Since the early 1990s Mr Polson has held a number of executive roles in financial services including positions at the Colonial group and National Mutual Funds Management (International) Limited.
Dominic Stevens - Chief Executive Officer
Prior to accepting the role of Chief Executive Officer in September 2008, Dominic Stevens was Deputy Managing Director of Challenger. Mr Stevens joined Challenger in September 2003 during which time he primarily held responsibility for overseeing Challenger's capital, risk management and strategy group.
Prior to joining Challenger, Mr Stevens led the foundation and was the Senior Managing Director of Zurich Capital Markets in the Asian region. Zurich Capital Markets Asia, specialised in the areas of structured finance, derivative solutions and provision of risk management products to investors in alternative assets.
From 1987 to 1999 Mr Stevens held a number of senior roles at Bankers Trust. Mr Stevens was a Partner of Bankers Trust Company, where he headed the Bankers Trust commodity businesses globally (ex energy). In addition Mr Stevens was responsible for the derivatives risk management business at Bankers Trust Australia.
Mr. Stevens was awarded a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Finance in 1986 from the University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia.
Russell Hooper
Russell Hooper was previously a director and chairman of the audit committee for Commonwealth Insurance Limited, a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank. Mr Hooper was also previously Chief General Manager, Funds Management at St. George Bank Limited and prior to that held various positions within the financial services group at Advance Bank Limited and St. George Bank Limited for more than thirteen years.
Graham Cubbin
Graham Cubbin joined the Challenger Board in January 2004. Mr Cubbin was a Senior Executive with CPH from 1990 until September 2005, including Chief Financial Officer for 13 years. Prior to joining CPH, Mr Cubbin held senior finance positions with a number of major companies including Capita Finance Group and Ford Motor Company.
Leon Zwier
Leon Zwier became an independent director on the board in September 2006. He is a lawyer from Melbourne, a partner in legal firm Arnold Bloch Leibler since 1991, whose practice focuses on commercial litigation and dispute resolution; and corporate recovery and insolvency.
Jonathan Grunzweig
Jonathan Grunzweig became a director of the board in November 2010. Based in California, USA, he is Principal and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Colony Capital, LLC, and oversees the sourcing, structuring, execution and management of all Colony Capital investments and divestments on a global basis. Prior to joining Colony in 1999, Mr. Grunzweig was a Partner with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he specialised in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.
Brenda Shanahan
Brenda Shanahan became a director of the board in April 2011. Ms Shanahan is a Graduate of Melbourne University in Economics and Commerce and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. Ms Shanahan has a research and institutional background in finance in Australia and overseas economies and sharemarkets. She has held executive positions in stock broking, investment management and an actuarial firm. Ms Shanahan is also a non-executive director of Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited.