Our founding partners are highly qualified, experienced, and trusted.
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Peter Cullinane
FOUNDER & PARTNER
Peter Cullinane has had a long career in both advertising and marketing, primarily with Saatchi & Saatchi, culminating in his role of Worldwide COO based out of NYC. Peter has successfully founded a number of New Zealand businesses across FMCG and Agencies but is most widely known as the founder of Lewis Road Creamery, a challenger business that took on market giants, to become a highly regarded FMCG business and one of New Zealand’s most loved brands.
He is member of both the Advertising and Marketing ‘Halls of Fame’, and sits on a number of Private and Public Boards as a director.
He holds Masters degrees in both Business Administration and Management.
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Michael Stiassny
FOUNDER & PARTNER
Michael Stiassny has had a high profile career in accounting and finance, where he was a leading insolvency expert before moving into issue resolution and strategic advice. Michael is a Chartered Fellow of The Institute of Directors in NZ (Inc) (CFInstD) and is also past President of the Institute of Directors.
He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (retired). He has both a Commerce and Law degree.
He is currently Chairman of Ngati Whatua Orakei Whai Rawa Limited, and a director of a number of other companies.
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Nicola O'Rourke
FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER
Nicola O’Rourke has had a successful career in FMCG, initially in innovation, then marketing and sales, before joining general management as a divisional head – in marketing and operational roles. She has launched over 300 products into 5 markets globally and has a clear understanding of what drives value in FMCG businesses. Nicola was most recently Chief Digital Officer at Comvita leading their global Digital Transformation across 9 markets. Prior to that, she was General Manager of Lewis Road Creamery leading the business expansion into the U.S. and chaired the Food Basket, group of companies entering China together with NZTE.
Nicola holds degrees in Food Innovation, Marketing Management and Commerce.
We enjoy solving big problems and creating quick value. We work with a wide reaching and highly capable network of individuals who are leaders in their respective areas. If you work with Founders, you are working with, and get access to, some of the best in the business.
Our Expertise
We have significant experience spanning careers in FMCG and Finance working with some of New Zealand’s most well know brands, products and businesses. We have the unique combination of not only working in and on businesses, but also starting a few successful businesses ourselves.
We have wide reaching networks which affords us access to some of the best people in the business, and we work with these networks to deliver maximum value to the founders we work with.