Kevin Hickman

Kevin Hickman

Inducted: 2020
Industry: Care & Health services

Founded in 1984, Ryman Healthcare is the largest retirement village operator in New Zealand and has now expanded into Australia. The founders Kevin Hickman and John Ryder began with $10,000 each and by 1999 listed Ryman on the stock exchange. Hickman and Ryder ran the company jointly until 2002. Kevin continued as Managing Director until 2006 then as a Director until his retirement in 2018.

Ryman Villages include resort-style facilities such as indoor swimming pools, movie theatres, and cafés. The premise of the model was that the homes and villages were somewhere they would be happy to have their mothers live.

Since stepping away from Ryman Healthcare in 2002, John has co-founded audiology chain Triton Hearing and tourism company Tuatara Tours and is chairman of leading private equity management company, Direct Capital.