Kernel Appoints Graeme Stewart as Chief Financial Officer

Kernel Wealth, one of New Zealand's leading investment platforms offering KiwiSaver, ETFs, and savings products, has appointed Graeme Stewart as its first in-house Chief Financial Officer. Known for making smart investing simple and accessible, Kernel Wealth has built a strong reputation for combining disciplined investment thinking with a transparent, client-first experience.

Graeme Stewart is a highly accomplished CFO with a strong track record leading finance functions across high-growth, technology-enabled businesses in New Zealand, Australia, and internationally. He brings deep expertise in corporate finance, ERP implementation, and scaling financial operations within fast-paced SaaS and software environments.

Graeme has held CFO roles at a number of well-regarded technology businesses, including Vend, the world's first cloud point-of-sale platform, where he was a key member of the executive team and led the business through a successful exit to NYSE-listed Lightspeed in 2021. He subsequently served as CFO at utecture, and then at Flintfox International, a global pricing and rebate management software business with operations across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Canada, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, where he led the group finance function and oversaw a successful exit to a strategic buyer. Most recently, Graeme served as Group CFO of Evaran, a newly formed aged care software group, leading the finance integration of three businesses acquired across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

His appointment marks an important milestone for Kernel Wealth as it enters its next phase of growth, bringing dedicated financial leadership to support the continued scaling of its platform.

Reflecting on his appointment, Graeme said:

"Working with Tribe Executive Recruitment was a high-quality experience from start to finish. Rather than taking a generic brief, Brad worked closely with the business to articulate the specific capabilities, style, and mindset required for the role. That clarity, combined with consistent communication and thoughtful guidance, made what is typically a complex process feel well-managed and aligned. The result was a role that strongly fits both my experience and longer-term goals.

I'm genuinely excited to be joining Kernel Wealth as CFO at such an important stage in its growth. Kernel has built a strong reputation for combining disciplined investment thinking with a highly accessible client experience, and I'm looking forward to contributing to the next phase of that journey. The opportunity to help scale the business while maintaining that focus on simplicity, transparency, and client outcomes is particularly compelling."

Chief Executive Dean Anderson said:

"We're delighted to welcome Graeme as our first in-house CFO, joining us at a pivotal point in Kernel's growth journey. His appointment marks an important step as we continue to scale and strengthen our platform. Brad was instrumental in securing Graeme, bringing a strong understanding of our business and delivering a highly aligned shortlist. We're excited about the expertise and leadership Graeme will bring as Kernel enters its next growth phase."

Tribe Executive and Brad Gatehouse congratulate Graeme on his appointment and wish him every success in his new role. We are proud to have partnered with Kernel Wealth on this important leadership appointment.

If you're looking to expand your leadership team, or are considering your next opportunity, please connect with Brad Gatehouse or the Tribe Executive team for a confidential discussion.