About Us

Mike is a Director of Platform 1 and has led large diverse teams through GM and Senior Director roles over the last 20 years in both New Zealand and Australia. Through identifying and nurturing leadership talent Mike has built large successful teams driving business growth and shareholder value. Having been on the Senior Executive Team of several large businesses he has broad commercial experience in business transformation, sales, marketing, change management, talent identification and business ownership transitions.

On returning to New Zealand he complemented this with sales, marketing and operational management consulting and advisory work with a number of SME business looking to grow. He then transitioned into business ownership himself as a Director of Platform 1.

Following on from a highly successful corporate sales and sales management career, Simon has owned a number of his own businesses across multiple industries and geographies, many with business partners. In these businesses he has focussed on the development of high performing teams and enduring business partnerships. Because of his deep interest and expertise in collaborating with and motivating people he has enjoyed significant success in these businesses.

Simon understands and believes in the platform 1 model as a powerful tool for business owners to realise the value of their enterprises, furthermore he is well equipped to help business owners successfully navigate the changes and complexities of transition from sole ownership to partnership and successful exit. His industry expertise is primarily across retail, technology and property.

David’s career has spanned several sectors including manufacturing, technology, banking, entertainment and sports management. In many roles as a CEO he has a strong track record of creating value through strategic initiatives to uncover and leverage business potential through product design, process design, pricing, asset utilisation, manufacturing capability, IP, international markets, culture and people.

Career highlights have included achieving a number of significant transformations and consistent, sustainable growth through new revenue channels, performance improvement, licensing, IP, JV, capital raising and working with founder / owners as they move to exit their businesses. David has broad commercial background, and with an open and collaborative approach is well placed to work with Platform 1 clients to realise their aspirations.

Rob is the Founding Director of Platform 1. Rob has an accounting and management background, primarily with large multinationals in the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand and in recent years has worked in human resource consulting, with public sector organisations and medium to large corporates. Rob has also owned and operated McDonald’s restaurants at Auckland Airport, and established his own consulting practice.

Rob’s comprehensive business background and exposure to a huge range of organisations and businesses from all industry sectors, has equipped him with a unique set of consulting skills, along with business insights that are of great benefit to Platform 1 clients.

With a background in business ownership and education Tom is passionate about the Platform 1 process and how it helps a business owner exit on their terms. As a school Principal for twenty years and business ownership over fifteen years Tom has the knowledge on what builds value in a business and how the owner can leverage that value to create a successful and profitable exit. That is why he is committed on partnering with business owners who wish to unlock the value in their business.

His strengths are in relationship management, HR and the knowledge of what drivers build value in a business. Tom loves travel and tramping, often at the same time and has a wide interest in sport and community organisations.

Peter is the South Island partner for Platform 1.

Peter had an early interest in life/business stage decision making, choosing to study and research career and business transition for his post-graduate degree at Canterbury University back in the 1980s. He published several articles on his findings at that time.

His career then started in marketing and commercial roles for some of New Zealand’s largest corporates but quickly moved to managing businesses in the small to medium sector. Peter has extensive experience across many industry sectors, both as a business manager and a business owner. He has started, grown and successfully exited several companies and is very experienced in planning and implementing change for growth and matching management talent to the unique characteristics of each business.

Peter continues to be passionate about helping business owners get life and business stage decisions right and the breadth of his expertise and experience is highly valued by Platform 1 clients.