Last Year – 26 – ‘Together Greater’ is the new Westpac tagline – whatever that means – but for Mark Weenink being on the board of the Government’s bankers brings a powerful role that leaves him high on the List.

Former Minter Ellison Rudd Watts managing partner Mark Weenink sits on the bank’s management team with a big job with a long title as ‘General Manager,Regulatory Affairs, Compliance & General Counsel’ New Zealand he plays a key role in handling the bank’s affairs under lawyer and outgoing CEO David McLean.

Last year his responsibilities increased with his role increased to include external relations, which includes the media, social media, government relations and sustainability teams.

There’s been plenty to do with the highly profitable bank as it began looking at sale the ownership review came on the heels of the Reserve Bank said it had ordered Westpac NZ to increase its holding of liquid assets, cash or assets that can be easily converted into cash, after being non-compliant with liquidity rules for eight years.

Weenink joined the bank in 2015 after a successful career within the profession and with a wealth of experience as both a lawyer specialising in the finance field and with proven leadership abilities and has demonstrated his firm understanding of New Zealand’s financial and commercial markets, combined with his unquestioned role as one of the country’s best known senior lawyers.

Practising with Minters since 2008, he has also worked with a financial services group in Sydney and with US-based mega firm McDermott Will & Emery in London. His earlier legal days were with Bell Gully in Auckland.

A winner of numerous awards his influence within Westpac and Also unique is his membership of the Weenink Brothers (not a rock band) but three successful legal brothers, all Rongotai College old boys, home to numerous current and former All Blacks, one of whom (Scott) has also made the Power List but has since moved from his role at Auckland Airport into investment and director roles with different companies, including Modica Group and Kiwisaver company Generate.

Brent Weenink is head of compliance and regulatory affairs at OM Financial.