Business leader of the year finalist 2013: Simon Challies

Challies has been MD since 2010. Photo / Natalie Slade

Ryman Healthcare boss Simon Challies has led his company through a period of spectacular growth.

Even with demographics on their side it has been a remarkable tenure which, as of yesterday, saw the company rank as the second best performer on the NZX. Not bad considering the top performer was tech darling Xero.

Challies joined Ryman in 1999 as chief financial officer and became chief executive in 2006, before being appointed managing director in 2010.

The company, which operates more than 20 retirement villages, had delivered total shareholder returns of 1600 per cent since its 1999 listing on the NZX, according to its last annual report.

- Staff reporter