Waikato Business News November/December 2016

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS November/December 2016 7
New programme will give CEOs the edge
The stressful and often lonely existence of
chief executives has been recognised in a
unique mentoring and support programme
created in Waikato.
By GEOFF TAYLOR
Executive Edge which has
the aim of developing a
pipeline of great CEOs
in Waikato, is the brainchild of
HR consultants Everest Group,
working alongside a group of
Waikato business organisations.
The first cohort of 14 leaders
are presently being selected for
the inaugural programme which
begins in February.
Everest Group managing
director Senga Allen says the
inspiration for Executive Edge
came about through her exposure
working with executives,
business owners and senior
managers.
“We know being in that position
in a business is quite a
lonely role and CEOs are often
under a huge amount of strain.
A lot of people say to me they
aspire to be a chief executive
but when they get there they
think ‘wow this is bigger than I
anticipated.’”
Senga says the purpose
of Executive Edge is to bring
CEOs together in a safe environment
where they can be
exposed to a variety of channels
of support and suggest their own
area in which they want help or
advice.
The aim is to ensure Waikato
has the best possible trained
CEOs and to encourage them
to develop an alumni to provide
ongoing support.
Senga says Everest Group
partnered with strong business
organisations and businesses to
broaden the support available
for CEOs. Waikato Chamber
of Commerce, Westpac, the
Institute of Directors and
Deloitte have all worked alongside
Everest Group to hone the
programme.
Two well-respected ambassadors
for Executive Edge,
Simon Perry and Trilogy chief
executive Angela Buglass, will
meet participants at regular
intervals.
Senga says Executive Edge
starts with some goal setting
which looks at what CEOs want
to achieve and where they are
in the life cycle of the business.
Programme mentors will work
with the CEOs on a bi-monthly
basis to help them achieve those
goals.
The programme progresses
over 12 months with a combination
of active learning and
group work.
Respected speakers and
thought leaders will be sourced
for each group based on areas
of need. Participants will undergo
a comprehensive Emotional
Intelligence assessment and
reports and feedback on this
will encourage their professional
development.
Another key to Executive
The team behind Executive Edge: From left, Everest Group managing director Senga Allen, Waikato Chamber of Commerce
chief executive William Durning, Westpac Waikato area manager Hamish Ward, Deloitte partner Doug Wilson, IOD Chairman
Margaret Devlin and Everest Group human resource specialist Greg Catley.
Edge is its networking and the
relationships formed with peers
and programme mentors.
“But the programme is really
going to be driven by the CEO,”
says Senga.
“It will be customised for
them. What are the hot spots in
their business at the moment,
what are the challenges that are
causing them sleepless nights,
what are the challenges in their
workplace?”
The associated organisations
– the chamber, Westpac, Deloitte
and the IoD - will be able to
reach into their networks to
source and share skills required
by the course participants.
Senga says Waikato’s talent
is often minimised and she
would like to see the programme
emphasise that the region has
some great people, is a place of
excellence and national organisations
need to be looking to
Waikato for top people when
they recruit.
Margaret Devlin, chairman
of the Waikato branch of the
Institute of Directors says the
relationship between the chief
executive and the board of directors
is critical to ensure effective
governance.
“We know one of the things
boards don’t do necessarily
well is look at how the CEO is
developed. We see some real
positives in not just developing
a good CEO but in developing
a good cohort and pipeline of
directors coming through.”
“One of the loneliest jobs in
the world is the CEO. They are
the meat in the sandwich. There
are already some groups around
town that have CEO forums
and that provide support. But
Executive Edge is effectively
taking it to the next level and
providing some ‘arms around
these people’ as they go through
their development journey.”
Waikato Chamber of
Commerce CEO William
Durning said the programme is
a great investment in Waikato
and New Zealand.
“The Waikato economy over
the next 30 years will be the lifeblood
of the New Zealand economy
and leading that will be the
CEO. We are right behind it.”
Westpac Waikato area manager
Hamish Ward says Waikato
has fantastic leaders already but
Executive Edge is about “bringing
them out into the open and
connecting them better”.
“Waikato is very good at
staying under the radar, we want
the region’s leaders to start getting
a bit more exposure nationally.”
“Chief executive roles can
be very lonely. If we can connect
CEOs that potentially don’t
know each other then that has
to be a good thing for building
capability.
Deloitte partner Doug
Wilson says irrespective of what
industry CEOs are in, most of
the challenges, they face are
similar.
“There can be a real fear
among CEOs to engage with
their peer group because they
don’t want to show any chinks
in their armour.
“We want to break down
those barriers so it’s okay to
have a coffee with someone and
say ‘this isn’t going so well.’ It’s
about building trust.”
To lodge an ‘Expression of
Interest’ for consideration of
inclusion in the programme go
to www.theexecutivedge.co.nz
Cheaper buying means big
savings for small businesses
Big business buying power is
available to small businesses,
thanks to the services of a
Waikato-based procurement
specialist.
Obtain, based in the heart of Hamilton’s
CBD, offers procurement
expertise and an innovative online
purchasing system, giving members 24-7
access to more than 6000 individual products.
Steady growth over three years has seen
its customer base grow to more than 800
members throughout New Zealand.
Obtain founder Stephen Coombe says
his business is the first in New Zealand
allowing members to order products from
preferred suppliers directly, via an online
purchasing system. The platform has recently
been upgraded to be mobile and tablet
optimised, and also includes integration
with Xero so purchase orders can be sent
straight to Xero for easy reconciliation.
Goods available include office supplies
and stationery, dairy products, food and
beverage products, kitchen consumables,
hospitality supplies, cleaning and hygiene
products, medical supplies and equipment,
linen and uniforms. Quotes can also be
sought for services such as security, power
and gas, and hygiene services.
Obtain’s online purchasing system can
be tailored for specific industries, listing
relevant products and services in one place.
Two examples are the Primary Health purchasing
system, developed for medical
practices and the Aged Care purchasing
system, for aged care related businesses.
“Small organisations spend lots of time
looking for products and services and don’t
always get the best prices. We put the buying
power in their hands so they spend less
and save time in the process,” Stephen said.
Signing up for Obtain is as simple as online
shopping - members complete a quick
registration process before browsing online
catalogues brimming with goods from preferred
business suppliers.
Credit card payment is securely accepted
at checkout or invoices can be sent to
businesses with a trading account.
“So they not only save on the purchase
price, they save by purchasing from multiple
suppliers in the same place, and online.
It takes the stress out of sourcing and ordering
products.”
Obtain, based in SODA’s co-working
space in Wintec House, is focusing on
helping Waikato businesses after signing
up about 800 members throughout New
Zealand, Stephen said. A wide range of
businesses enjoy the benefits of Obtain’s
services, from aged care, medical and dental
practices, through to cafés, retail shops,
sports clubs, builders, farmers and more.
There is no cost to join and no ongoing
fees, as Obtain is paid a small procurement
fee by suppliers for their service.
Obtain’s four team members are procurement
and supply chain specialists,
coming from a range sectors including
manufacturing, health, transportation, ICT,
engineering and facilities management,
from small businesses to large multi-nationals.
Stephen’s professional background is
in procurement and supply chain for large
corporates, such as Fonterra and Waikato
District Health Board.
“There are a lot of other buying groups
out there but the innovative purchasing
system we have developed is unique. We
also offer project services to help with
more complex procurement needs a business
may have. With Obtain, we have taken
what we’ve learned in the corporate world
and put it to good use.”
Registration was quick and easy with Obtain. We have saved over $450
on purchasing our vaccine fridge, and have made over $4,300 per annum
savings on paper, hygiene, and office supplies.”
Adrienne Carter – Nurse Manager, Silverdale Medical
We have made significant savings of over $14,000 per annum over
many categories by using Obtain. The service and advice is absolutely
wonderful. I cannot speak highly enough.”
Ann Coughlan – CEO, Mercy Parklands
www.obtain.co.nz
Stephen Coombe.
30311