Grant Baker (businessman)

Grant Baker was raised in Māngere, located in the south of Auckland, New Zealand, with interests in motorsports from a young age. He attended teachers' college^[2] with the intention of earning an education degree but left early to pursue a career in sales.

Baker's career began with newspaper ad sales before moving to office equipment sales. He is best known for co-founding the successful venture capital firm The Business Bakery. He gained attention for his role in the creation and $132 million sale of 42 Below vodka to Bacardi in 2006.^[3] As a chairman and principal of Auckland-based Business Bakery, Baker played a role in the $211 million takeover of Trilogy International by CITIC Capital.^[4]

Following the sale of Trilogy, Baker, along with his business partners, turned their attention to Me Today, an NZX-listed health and skincare company.^[5][6]

During the 2008 financial crisis, Baker's venture capital firm invested in Dorchester Pacific.^[7][8] This investment was pivotal as Dorchester evolved into Turners Automotive Group, which emerged as a notable entity in the NZ50 index.^[9] Baker's role transitioned to that of a non-executive chairman and a substantial shareholder in Turners Automotive Group.

After having had bowel cancer, Baker co-founded the Gut Cancer Foundation, which aims to support research and increase awareness of gut cancers in New Zealand.^[10][11]

Baker is a car collector, known for his collection of Ferraris.^[12] He has been involved in motorsport racing in Ferrari's Challenge Series ^[13] as well as the support of young racing drivers, including Formula 1’s Liam Lawson.^[14]

In 2026, Baker published his memoir No Pit Stops: The Business of Going All In.^[15]