Dynamic Business - taking the plunge: The key to business success

Risk Appetite: Eagle Technology chief executive Gary Langford's company sponsors the Young Executive of the Year Award. Picture / Jason Oxenham

This year marks the 25th year of the Deloitte Top 200 - a time to celebrate the standout performers from the past financial year - but also to remember the vanguard companies and business leaders who have helped shape the New Zealand economy over the past quarter of a century.

It's also a time to look at the major trends which stand to influence the direction business takes in the coming years - as the Herald's Business Reports team talks to chief executives riding major disruption in their sectors like Spark CEO Simon Moutter, Air New Zealand's Christopher Luxon and ASB's Barbara Chapman.

And it's a time to be challenged by prominent business leaders - like Westpac acting chief executive David McLean - to come up with fresh ideas to leverage New Zealand's strong international competitiveness.

For the second time, Air New Zealand has taken out Company of the Year, as our national carrier set a new high-water mark for profit and won over the judges with the impressive strategic direction outlined for the business.

It was double honours for Air New Zealand with Tony Carter being singled out as Chairperson of the Year - a mark of his stewardship, not just at the airline but also at Fisher and Paykel Healthcare.

Ryman Healthcare's Simon Challies scooped the prized Executive of the Year award, lauded as a "master of detail" who had "devoted himself to his company for a long, long time with great results".

This year also sees the advent of the inaugural Diversity Leader award which was given to BNZ. The Government sponsorship for this award was made possible by the Prime Minister's Office. The award was presented by Deputy Prime Minister Bill English at a black tie event at Auckland's Vector Arena last night.

The Deloitte Top 200 list gives a keen insight into the domestic business landscape, illustrating how our best and biggest companies are performing in what has been another strong year for the New Zealand economy. Our Top 200 outpaced national growth, improving revenue cumulatively by 6.6 per cent. The real story however was profit margins, which grew by an enormous 64.4 per cent - as total profit across the Top 200 improved from $4.8 billion to $7.9 billion year on year.

Heading the list once again is Fonterra - still far and away New Zealand's largest company - turning in another strong year despite international hiccups and a variable market for milk. Ebos Group was a standout performer, rising from 21st to 4th in the list after more than doubling revenue following their acquisition of Australian pharmaceuticals giant Symbion.

Seventeen new companies made an appearance on the list this year, with a healthy mix of debutants, mergers and acquisitions, as well as the return of businesses off the back of markedly improved performances.

It was a relatively pedestrian year for our finance companies, who improved overall revenues by 3.7 per cent.

There was a healthy increase in profit after tax, up 24 per cent - but none of the top four banks - ANZ, Westpac, BNZ and ASB - emerged as a standout.

For the first time this year, Maori businesses have been featured as a part of the Top 200. Though only one qualified for the main list, running the special section on Maori companies reflects the significant and growing part of our economy they comprise, and it is an encouraging step forward to see them taking their seat at the Top 200 table.