STRATEGIZE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Firm Partner and Strategy Implementation Partner
Chris has had three careers as Chartered Accountant, Business Improvement Project Manager and since 2004 has personally coached and advised with over 750 businesses across NZ. Chris has worked with a variety across many industries.
Chris is the founder of Strategize based in Christchurch. The firm specializes in helping business owners and their teams, in the long term, to thrive in any type of business climate. The Strategize team challenge business owners to understand every aspect of their business, evaluate what makes their organization unique, and leverage assets and team talents to make their businesses successful.
Chris started his first business in 1994 and has operated several successful businesses. Chris has direct experience with day-to-day business challenges faced by most business owners and he has helped many businesses take advantage of business growth opportunities.
For the last 18 years Chris has specialised in working with fast growing businesses. He has worked with over 240 businesses across NZ including automotive workshops, automotive parts, cafes, catering, construction, earth-moving, education resources, electricians, engraving, fastening supplies, fitness, finance, graphic design, importing, insurance, kitchen joinery, office furniture, blind manufacturing, timber, real estate, web design, and many more. Many of these businesses have achieved outstanding results including being among the fastest growing businesses in NZ.
Chris is very focused on fast growth companies and working with several businesses growing over 300% over 3 years. These businesses include construction, building, steel fabrication, professional services and electrical contracting. This has included merger and acquisition and franchising.
Chris completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Management and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1993. In the early part of his career he worked as a Management Accountant and Financial Controller. Chris spent 7 years as a Project Manager implementing business and IT improvement projects. Chris completed a Master Project Management Degree in 2000 with Telecom NZ.
Chris is married and had two fast growing children based in Christchurch. Chris enjoys running, biking and skiing.
Job Titles:
- Senior Strategy Implementation Partner
David has been a Christchurch based business leader for over 30 years. Recently David has been working within local leadership roles in the Health and Safety sector which has added to his strong Manufacturing, Distribution and Operational portfolios.
David has strong People Management, Business Development, Sales and Customer Services leadership background so provides a wealth of knowledge working for you as your trusted Business Partner and Business Strategist.
He has successfully lead teams as small as 2 employees turning over 600k pa through to teams of up to 60 employees turning over $13M pa. He has a proven track record of taking on business improvement projects within New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
David has also been a New Zealand Company Director with a turnover of $26M pa and 100+ employees.
Born in Christchurch, David is married with 2 adult children. He still plays competitive cricket for the Sydenham Cricket Club, Table Tennis for Lincoln University and does a bit of jogging to keep fit. He is also looking forward to playing a bit of golf again.
Grant has over 30 years' experience spanning manufacturing, technology, and construction industries in NZ, UK, and PNG. Companies included multinationals and SME's, with roles in finance, commercial, general management, and 20+ years business ownership. Grant has also been a New Zealand Company Director for a nationwide franchise with annual turnover of $20M and over 100 staff and contractors. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from Otago and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
I have 38 years of sales, management, customer service, coaching, mentoring and leadership experience, in 6 top companies on 3 continents. My experience covers a number of industries, eg; Car Hire, Freight, Health Care, Hygiene, Advertising (web and book), Insurance, Pest Control, Print, Packaging, Tractor Sales, Website Contact Center, Real Estate, Security and Alarm Sales, Recruitment Sales, Travel and Tourism Sales, Agriculture and Telesales to name a few.
Laila is an experienced international business development and marketing professional with experience working in key markets in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and the USA. Laila has worked with a range of New Zealand companies in the primary industry sector, food, beverage, tourism, IT, and retail. Commercially astute and result orientated, Laila always seeking to establish clear objectives and deliver agreed outcomes.
Martz originally wanted to be a motor mechanic but couldn't secure an apprenticeship on leaving school, so on his fathers advice he went to do a course in Business Studies. He emerged as a qualified Chartered Accountant although failed and still fails to adopt the stereotypical mould.
He's owned several public practices and enjoyed up to 22 full time staff at any given time. The firms offered tax and compliance, business development and audit and risk assurance. Alongside this he has owned commercial businesses ranging from Structural steel engineering, Heating and Air Conditioning, Transport and even a labour hire company (220+ staff) specialised in the transport and tourism sector.
Mitch has over 25 years' experience in a diverse range of industries, including Energy, Food Processing, Technology and Satellite Broadcast Television. Mitch has lived and worked in Australia, China, USA, Africa and NZ with roles in general management, commercial, business development, strategy and change management where his focus on innovation, growth and change has delivered more than $200 million of revenue.
Paul has been involved in manufacturing here in Christchurch for over 40 years. Paul started as an Apprentice and worked his way up from the shop floor, the last 35 years have seen Paul involved at management level in numerous industries. Production Manager with an Injection Moulding company, Factory Manager Plastics Fabrication, CNC Machine Shop Manager, Shift Manager Export Marine Company and his last role in Sales and Warehousing as a Branch Manager.
These Management roles over the years have seen Paul work in small to medium size companies as well as one of the major manufacturers here in Christchurch, he has managed staff levels from 10 through to 65.
Paul has been heavily involved in LEAN manufacturing,5S methodologies and implementation, and set up Quality Control programs.
Paul has a good working knowledge of H&S, HR and training, Process improvement, Inventory control and Sales and Marketing.
Paul has been involved in numerous projects over his career, the last major project had a Capex of over $3.5 Million.
Paul has completed a Bachelor of Commerce at UC majoring in Management and Operations Management, he has also attained Project Management qualifications and is close to finishing a Six Sigma black belt qualification in Quality.
Paul is married has 2 adult children and 5 grandchildren who keep him extremely busy in his spare time.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Manager
Rick started his career in communications in 1993 with Comspect Communications in Sales. He also worked at GDC Communications as Call Centre Manager.
My goal is to help business owners continuously improve their business by utilising analysis and planning to create an efficient operation for optimal performance and maximum profits, with minimal waste.
I am a self-motivated person and believe in value aligned goals. Achieving results is important to me. I am naturally a calm person with a happy disposition and a passion for business.
Roger has experience in Business Finance, China Manufacturing and Procurement, developing and executing Retail Strategy for China outsourcing, and sales account management.
Job Titles:
- Business Partner and Business Strategist
- Strategy
Simon is a business expert - built on extensive experience of working for one of New Zealand's largest NZX listed companies, a large successful family business and consultancy to numerous SME businesses throughout the South Island.
Simon brings extensive governance experience to the team having been involved in local body politics for over 25 years, numerous trading enterprises and companies associated with service provision. He was involved in some of the first primary health organisation in NZ and was instrumental in initiatives to retain medical and pharmacy provision in a small rural town. Simon also helps numerous voluntary charitable organisations, is a Board member for the Duke of Edinburgh NZ Trust and on his sons school BoT.
Simon has worked in the NZ energy sector for many years - was part of the team that established one of NZ's largest SOE's and subsequently went on to work on this companies listing on the NZX. He has also brings tourism industry experience and has a good understanding of the challenges of SME businesses. He loves technology and believes it is something that can differentiate and leverage a business to be successful.
Simon lives in Rolleston with Renee and Harri. He loves to spend time with his family and loves to entertain with friends. Simon is passionate about NZ and our amazing environment and he and his family spend a lot of time enjoying the amazing area we call home.
With over 25 years of experience, Tim is keen to work with business owners to profitably grow their businesses and help them meet their personal goals.
Prior to being in business for himself Tim worked in Commercial Management and project based roles for several large Corporations in the Telecommunications and Retail sectors in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.
Tina has worked with the NZ Education, Tourism and SME sector for 20 years to develop and deliver powerful growth strategies and insightful business advisory. Tina's network and experience spans from Europe to New Zealand and from running several companies to working in diverse industries. One of the innovative companies that Tina founded in the last 25 years, was the first women only motorcycle touring company worldwide.
Tina has a strong background in Marketing, Communications and Sales. Her skills set include strategic business & marketing planning, market research and market entry strategies, export marketing, positioning, PR, copy writing, publishing, writing a book, film making, sales, strategic relationship building and maintenance, energy and carbon reduction, well-being and mindset. She is well known in the education industry for her collaborative approach and innovative concepts.