Last night, former Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Managing Director and CEO Mike Daniell was presented with the New Zealand Shareholders’ Association (NZSA) Beacon Award. Now one of the company’s directors, Mike was recognised for his exceptional corporate leadership over his 37 years with the company.

In his address, NZSA Chairman John Hawkins said, “Mike’s exceptional corporate leadership and the huge contribution he has made to both New Zealand business innovation and the lives of so many people with respiratory problems worldwide, in our view puts him in a league of his own. 37 years after starting, with one room and a handful of staff, Mike has built Fisher & Paykel Healthcare into a world-wide leader in the treatment of sleep apnea and humidified ventilation systems. This is a major world company in its area.”

Since starting with Fisher & Paykel in 1979, Mike has led the company from a small medical division with revenue of $233,000 to an international firm employing over 3,500 people and earning revenue of over $800 million.

On accepting the award Mike said, “I am honoured and humbled to receive this Shareholders’ Association Beacon Award. It is a wonderful recognition of the values and achievements of the people I’ve worked with over many years. It’s their abilities, innovation, hard work, integrity and desire to always do the right thing that has always surpassed any contribution that I’ve made.”

This is the 15th year for the NZSA award, which recognises an individual for outstanding leadership, guidance, bravery, respect for shareholders, corporate social responsibility and high ethical standards.

Mike remains on Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s Board as a non-independent director. He also holds a director role with Tait Communications, is a member of the Council of the University of Auckland and Chair of the Medical Technologies Centre of Research Excellence.

In 2015, the Beacon Award was won by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Chair Tony Carter. Mr Carter also chairs Air New Zealand and the Auckland Blues and is a director of Fletcher Building and ANZ New Zealand.