Bringing a global perspective home to Aotearoa

When Sam Dixon left New Zealand for London, he initially intended to be away for no more than two years, but ended up staying and working in the British financial capital for more than 15. Armed with a BComm, Sam initially worked as an investment banker at  JPMorgan in London where he realised his Kiwi roots and work ethos were highly valued. 

“Both JPMorgan and subsequently HSBC really liked hiring New Zealanders because they valued our ability to just roll our sleeves up and get stuff done. I was promoted to run large teams at both firms as they were filled with people from all over Europe and Asia with various  opinions on religion and politics. As a Kiwi all I cared about was getting business done and planning my next long weekend away to support the All Blacks.”

In 2003 Sam married Jo-Anne, a fellow Kiwi he met in an Irish bar in Leicester Square and the couple went on to have two sons, both born in London. Their international journey continued when Sam joined HSBC and was asked to move to Hong Kong to lead their Hedge Fund team across Asia. 

“When I was first offered the role I promised Jo-Anne we would spend two years in Hong Kong, but we ended up staying for eleven. HSBC, at that time, was the largest bank in Hong Kong and it was exciting visiting all the major cities in Asia to assist foreign firms go into and out of China. Jo-Anne gave up her career as a brand consultant when we left London and went on to launch what became Asia’s best-selling Panama hat brand. Hong Kong is a wonderful place to have young children and there’s a great expat community, so we really enjoyed our time there.”

The family always planned to return to New Zealand, and when it came time for their eldest son to start secondary school, they decided to enrol him as a boarder at Sam’s alma mater in Auckland.  

By the time their second son, Charlie, was ready to start High school the pandemic had hit and Jo-Anne moved back to Auckland to be with the boys, leaving Sam in Hong Kong and then Sydney to finish up his role with HSBC. 

“I did nine weeks of quarantine in 2022 as I went back and forth between Auckland, Sydney and Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government stipulated  three weeks’ quarantine in the tiny Hong Kong hotel rooms. A friend tried to drop me off a spin cycle and rowing machine so I could stay active but neither would fit in the tiny Hong Kong hotel room.”

Finally, in early 2023, Sam concluded his tenure with HSBC and returned to New Zealand to reunite permanently with his family.

“I was super excited coming back to New Zealand after more than 20 years offshore, but integrating into professional life after such a long absence was challenging. I was naturally not an easy fit for large Kiwi financial institutions as they found it difficult to offer senior roles to someone of my age with no direct New Zealand deal experience, I don’t hold any grudges however, and it is understandable that local institutions preferred younger candidates who were more attuned to the domestic landscape.”

On a personal level, Sam’s reintegration into Kiwi society was a lot more satisfying. He cherishes regular fishing/skiing trips with old school friends as well as weekend walks around Auckland with his labrador. He has also landed a great role, one which allows him to bring all his global know-how to the table. 

“I have set up a fund distribution business, connecting Kiwi and offshore investors to asset managers and investment opportunities in New Zealand. I am really enjoying the challenge of applying international investment discipline and introducing fantastic Kiwi fund managers to those offshore investors. Translating my international experience into local success has required a strategic approach. Everyone has been keen to talk over a flat white but you need to be prepared to offer differentiated solutions and to ask for what you want and not just rely on the wonderful friendly Kiwi ethos.”

For other Kiwis contemplating a return home, both Jo-Anne and Sam say their advice is to start preparing for the reintegration sooner rather than later. 

“Reach out while you’re still overseas, use networks like LinkedIn and Kea effectively, and don’t be afraid to cold call or email friends of friends.”

Sam’s experience underscores a broader narrative about the challenges and rewards of returning home after an extended period abroad. However, despite the hurdles, he remains optimistic about his return and values the chance to contribute to New Zealand’s growth and development.

“My experiences offshore have enriched my perspective, and that of my family. I’m very positive about New Zealand’s future and am keen to give back and support.  I think we are  in relatively good shape compared to other parts of the world.  My friends say I am naïve – but I’ve experienced countries with much worse social, environmental and political standards. Mind you, that doesn’t stop me complaining to Wayne Brown about road cones and yelling at the TV when I disagree about petty micro political issues!. But, overall I think people should realise how lucky we are to live here and I’m bloody excited about showcasing the local talent and introducing more investors and funds in to this great country.”