The New Zealand Merino Company has appointed Rosanna Iacono as an Independent Director following a Board Director search conducted by SEQEL Partners.

Since its 1996 beginnings as an industry-good organisation, The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) has been a champion of innovation and challenging the status quo. NZM is now the leading global marketer and seller of ethical wool, fostering direct connections between growers and the world-leading brands that use their fibre.

Rosanna is an AICD-trained board member and Chairperson and former C-level Executive, with rich and diverse experience and networks both globally and in Australia. She worked internationally for 16 years in global leadership roles for the iconic brands Nike and Levi’s, and upon her return to Australia held C-Suite roles with fashion, luxury and lifestyle businesses including Sheridan, Saba, Sass & Bide, Jurlique and Freedom.

As the Global Chief Brand Officer for Jurlique, an Australian natural skincare range, she was part of the leadership team which sold the business to the Japanese company Pola Orbis for $335 million. With Levi Strauss Europe she was the Global Brand Director to Levi’s RED and Levi’s Vintage clothing, as well as a Brand Director for EMEA.

She is currently the CEO and co-founder of the strategy consultancy The Growth Activists based in Sydney and focuses on advising companies around their growth, responsible business and sustainability activities. She has advised large retail businesses such as Country Road Group, Rebel Sport, RM Williams, Camilla and Totally Workwear, through to ethical and locally-produced designer brands like bassike, PE Nation and Viktoria & Woods. Her work has also extended to working with clothing recycling service providers like SCRgroup, and advanced innovation players like Seaforest and Uluu, disruptive organisations working to meet the net-zero regenerative economy commitments.

Rosanna is also the Independent Chair of Seamless, Australia’s first circular product stewardship scheme in which she has played a key establishment role, and the former Chair of foster agency Stretch-A-Family. Rosanna holds a Master’s degree in Marketing & Fashion Merchandising from RMIT.