BCom, University of Canterbury; management studies, Harvard University. Mid-1980s, launched investment banking career in New Zealand; after 10 years in the New Zealand market, headed offshore, working in Singapore, London, and Sydney for US investment banking firm Merrill Lynch, in charge of a number of business units, including global foreign exchange and European bond and derivative trading. 1999, joined the Foreign Exchange Committee, Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 2001, stood for Parliament of New Zealand for the National Party; 2002, Member of Parliament, Helensville; since November 2006, Leader of the New Zealand National Party. 2014, led the National Party to its third consecutive election victory, and increased its number of seats in Parliament. Since November 2008, Prime Minister of New Zealand; concurrently, Minister of Tourism. Interests: family, cooking, playing golf, and watching rugby.