![Board of directors](/-/media/challenger/images/banners/secondary-hero-banners/board-of-directors.jpg?h=220&w=2500&hash=CDBEC6E929B93824D84215E336770DD6)
Board of Directors
![Peter Polson](/-/media/challenger/annual-review/board-and-leadership-team/board-of-directors/peter-polson.jpg?h=300&iar=0&mh=405&mw=576&w=428&hash=D59EDB97E65B88DC065DB63CD070AAF5)
Peter Polson
Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair
Peter has been the independent Chair since 2004 and an independent Non-Executive Director since 2003. Peter is Chair of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Group Risk Committee, Group Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.
![Duncan West](/-/media/challenger/images/photos/directors/john-m-green.jpg?h=399&iar=0&mh=405&mw=576&w=570&hash=F4C94A8796E4C958C96F872A72EDC1DE)
John M. Green
Independent Non-Executive Director
John has been an independent Non-Executive Director since 2017 and is a member of the Group Risk Committee, Group Audit Committee, Group Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee.
![Steven Gregg](/-/media/challenger/images/photos/directors/steven-gregg.jpg?h=399&iar=0&mh=405&mw=576&w=570&hash=76973B1175DD73124EC3773E23EEAC81)
Steven Gregg
Independent Non-Executive Director
Steven has been an independent Non-Executive Director since 2012 and is a member of the Group Audit Committee, Group Risk Committee, Group Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee.
![Richard Howes](/-/media/challenger/annual-review/board-and-leadership-team/board-of-directors/richard-howes.jpg?h=300&iar=0&mh=405&mw=576&w=428&hash=E48FC397D66DDFD4043BE35E560A60A3)
Richard Howes
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Richard was appointed Managing Director and CEO of Challenger Limited in January 2019 and has previously held a number of senior executive roles at Challenger since joining in 2003, including Chief Executive of Distribution, Product and Marketing, Chief Executive of Life and Chief Investment Officer.
![Masahiko Kobayashi](/-/media/challenger/images/photos/directors/masahiko-kobayashi.jpg?h=399&iar=0&mh=405&mw=576&w=570&hash=41DCC417160D48A7C037D1AC4BA25E84)
Masahiko Kobayashi
Non-Executive Director
Masahiko became a Non-Executive Director in 2019 and is currently a director and managing executive officer (Corporate Planning, Risk Management and Finance) of Mitsui Sumitomo Primary Life Insurance (MSP), a subsidiary of MS&AD. Masahiko is a member of the Nomination Committee.
![Heather Smith](/-/media/challenger/images/photos/directors/heather-smith.jpg?h=399&iar=0&mh=405&mw=576&w=570&hash=F3E45395D8C2419A6F73C10B27CBB869)
Dr Heather Smith
Independent Non-Executive Director
Heather became an independent Non-Executive Director in 2021 and is the Chair of the Group Audit Committee and a member of the Group Risk Committee and the Nomination Committee.
![JoAnne Stephenson](/-/media/challenger/images/photos/directors/joanne-stephenson.jpg?h=399&iar=0&mh=405&mw=576&w=570&hash=35C6B6DCA347D1D933C3ECD10CDE91BD)
JoAnne Stephenson
Independent Non-Executive Director
JoAnne has been an independent Non-Executive Director since 2012 and is Chair of the Group Remuneration Committee and a member of the Group Risk Committee, Group Audit Committee and Nomination Committee.
![Duncan West](/-/media/challenger/images/photos/directors/duncan-west.jpg?h=399&iar=0&mh=405&mw=576&w=570&hash=ED74323C955077863423CD780FAC5622)
Duncan West
Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair
Duncan became Chair in October 2022. He has been an independent Non-Executive Director since 2018 and is a member of the Group Risk Committee, Group Audit Committee, Group Remuneration Committee, and Nomination Committee.
![Melanie Willis](/-/media/challenger/images/photos/directors/melanie-willis.jpg?h=399&iar=0&mh=405&mw=576&w=570&hash=B8EE12B84F59DACD4D8FA35D8529637C)
Melanie Willis
Independent Non-Executive Director
Melanie has been an independent Non-Executive Director since 2017 and is Chair of the Group Risk Committee and a member of Group Audit Committee and Nomination Committee.