Squirrel further bolsters leadership team to support growth
Squirrel has appointed a new Chief Operating Officer and Head of Legal, Risk & Compliance as it positions itself for its next growth chapter.
Friday, June 19th 2026, 9:45AM
Squirrel has made two new appointments to its senior leadership team. Lauren De Witt has joined in the newly-recalibrated role of Chief Operating Officer, while Sam Bell has stepped into the position of Head of Legal, Risk & Compliance. As part of the changes, former COO Dave Tyrer has transitioned into the new role of Group Head of Asset Management.
Squirrel CEO David Cunningham says the changes are all about setting the business up to scale well, and scale smart.
"We're a complex business with ambitious plans. As we continue to scale, we want to make sure we've got the best structure—and expertise around the table—to support that growth, and wider team, in a sustainable way.
"Within the new COO role, De Witt will be responsible for overseeing our People, Risk & Operations. De Witt and Bell bring a huge depth of experience in their respective fields, which will be critical as we build for the future."
De Witt's background includes more than two decades of strategic enterprise operations experience, with a proven track record in building and scaling highly complex businesses during periods of transformation, growth and uncertainty.
Most recently, she spent two years as Foodstuffs North Island Operations Manager - Four Square, overseeing a network of more than 160 stores. Prior to that, she worked as CEO of executive recruitment and contracting firm Emergent, where she was responsible for successfully scaling and stabilising the business post-pandemic.
De Witt says: "Squirrel is building something genuinely different in financial services, and there's a real opportunity to continue strengthening the systems, leadership capability and operational foundations that support long-term growth."
Bell brings over 20 years' experience across New Zealand's financial services sector, including senior legal, regulatory and compliance roles most recently at Westpac and AIA.
Bell says: "What really drew me to Squirrel is their deep commitment to challenging the status quo and doing right by their customers. I look forward to working alongside De Witt and the wider team to support Squirrel's continued growth."
Cunningham says Tyrer's transition to the role of Group Head of Asset Management reflects a tighter focus on one of the fastest-growing parts of the business.
"Tyrer has played an instrumental role in shaping the trajectory of our asset management business over the last few years—and that'll still be the core of what he does. His new title better reflects the work he's already leading day to day across our investment and asset management functions. It also allows us to continue building specialist capability across the wider business as we grow."
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