MEET OUR TEAM

Management Team

James Beale

Partner

James has worked in New Zealand financial markets for 25 years, including 14 years with leading investment advisory business, Craigs Investment Partners Limited, where he held a number of senior executive roles.

James’ experience includes investment analysis and research, capital markets advisory, including managing multiple initial public offerings (IPOs), investment advisory, and funds management. James is a member of the Institute of Directors and he sits on the Investment Committee of New Zealand Cricket.

James is a Director of Oriens portfolio companies Rockit Global, Retirement Income Group, IVS Group, PMG Group and Cloudland Group.

James is a member of the Investment Committee.

james.beale@orienscapital.co.nz

Peter Tinholt

Partner

Peter has significant merger, acquisition, and divestment experience built up over 25 years working for large corporates and running private equity and privately owned businesses in New Zealand and Australia.

Peter has held senior executive roles at Johnson & Johnson, Cadbury Schweppes, Mother Earth, Delmaine Fine Foods, and Taura Natural Ingredients. Peter has excellent governance experience and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Peter has received two Rotary Paul Harris Fellow awards for his service to the community. He has been a Justice of the Peace since January 2025.

Peter is a director of Oriens Capital portfolio companies Rhino Manufacturing, Railblaza, Fastmount, NTD, Van Dyck Fine Foods and Tekplas.

Peter is a member of the Investment Committee.

peter.tinholt@orienscapital.co.nz

David Bell

Partner & CFO

David has over 20 years of experience in senior finance and investment-related roles across New Zealand, the UK, and Russia.

Prior to joining Oriens Capital, David was CFO of an Auckland-based private equity investor, was a director at Barclays Capital Investment Bank, and spent seven years at KPMG. David is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Directors. He is a member of the Investment Committee of the Bay of Plenty Community Trust, a Trustee of the New Zealand Football Foundation, and a past Council member of the New Zealand Private Capital Association.

David is a director of Oriens Capital portfolio companies Rhino Manufacturing and Van Dyck Fine Foods.

David is a member of the Investment Committee

david.bell@orienscapital.co.nz

 

Ryan Thompson

Investment Director

Ryan joined Oriens in 2017 as an Analyst and has transaction experience spanning all Oriens investments to date.

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Business analysis Degree in from the University of Waikato majoring in both finance and economics. Ryan is a member of the Institute of Directors, a Council member of the New Zealand Private Capital Association and is a member of the Enterprise Angeles Investment Committee.

Ryan is a director of IVS Group, NTD and Tekplas, and is an observer on both the NGH (Railblaza) and Fastmount boards.

ryan.thompson@orienscapital.co.nz

Daniel Field

Investment Manager

Daniel joined Oriens in 2025 and brings over five years of direct private equity experience in New Zealand. Prior to joining Oriens, he was in the investment team of an Auckland-based private capital firm. Daniel has also held investment banking roles with Deutsche Craigs, as well as financial analysis for a corporate based in Vancouver, Canada.

He has experience across a range of industries, including healthcare, information technology, education, and financial services.

Daniel holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Otago, majoring in finance and economics.

daniel.field@orienscapital.co.nz

Lucy Inder

Senior Analyst & Responsible Investment Lead

Lucy joined Oriens as an Investment Analyst in July 2021 following the close of Fund 2. Prior to Oriens, Lucy’s career has been primarily in banking, where she has held various roles at both Westpac and BNZ.

Lucy holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration Degree (First Class Honours) from Victoria University of Wellington, majoring in Finance and Economics. She has also passed level one and two CFA exams.

lucy.inder@orienscapital.co.nz

Sarah Kidd

Finance Manager

Sarah joined Oriens Capital in May 2024 as Finance Manager. Sarah has over 10 years Big 4 accounting experience in New Zealand, Singapore and London. Sarah has most recently held a role as a Senior Financial Accountant at a large corporate in New Zealand.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (major in Accounting) from the University of Canterbury, and is an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the New Zealand High Court and was admitted as a Chartered Accountant in 2013.

sarah.kidd@orienscapital.co.nz

 

 

Non-executive Investment Committee Members

Richard Hughes

Richard has spent much of his career in the private equity industry in the UK, China, Australia and New Zealand, and has also held roles in emerging market venture capital funds in Africa, Central America and Asia. He is a Chartered Accountant and graduated from Cambridge University where he read Engineering.

Carolyn Steele

Carolyn is a professional director with current roles including Green Cross Health, WEL Networks, Vulcan Steel, Property for Industry and ANZ Bank New Zealand. Previous advisory board roles included Morrison and Co PIP Fund and director roles include Datacom and Metlifecare. In executive capacity Carolyn worked for the NZ Superannuation Fund in private market investments, and Forsyth Barr and Credit Suisse in Investment Banking roles. Carolyn has a BMS Honours degree from Waikato University.

Neil Craig

Neil is the Founder and former Chairman and Chief Executive of Craigs Investment Partners. At Craigs, he is actively involved in directing a strategy of providing investment vehicles for wholesale clients into Private Equity funds and unlisted entities.

Bob Major

Bob holds a Masters’ degree in Science from Massey University. He has a strong background in food and nutrition, having worked for the Dairy Board and Fonterra in senior executive roles. Bob is Chairman of Gibb Holdings, and is on the board of Miro Trading, Comvita and a number of other food related entities.

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