Synergy appoints new CEO

Synergy appoints new CEO

Wellington businessman Jim Donovan has been appointed to the position of CEO at software services company, Synergy International, taking over from retiring CEO and company co-founder David Irving.

His most recent high profile role was as CEO and co-owner of Deltec Telesystems, a technology company which employed over 200 staff and contractors. Under his leadership, Deltec tripled its turnover in three years and achieved very high profitability. In 2000 Deltec was named the High Growth Company of the Year and Supreme Award winner at the New Zealand HiTech Awards. It also made the inaugural Unlimited magazine list of Best Places to Work.

Mr Donovan has also held management roles in distribution and technology businesses in Britain and New Zealand. He led the revitalisation of power company Electra and was a consulting partner at Ernst & Young.

Since leading the sale of Deltec to a US corporation in 2001, he has acted as an investor and advisor to a number of companies both in New Zealand and offshore. He is a non-executive member of the Tertiary Education Commission and a member of the Institute of Directors.

Synergy Board Chairman Philip Shewell said he was delighted that after an exhaustive international search, the successful candidate hailed from the company’s home base in Wellington.

“Jim has all the qualities we need to take Synergy to the next level, particularly the experience of having rapidly grown a mid-size company. His enthusiasm for the company and its potential was a key factor in his appointment.”

The new CEO takes up his role on Monday 16 May and says he was attracted to Synergy by the potential it offered for growth.

“The company has all the right ingredients in terms of its size, strong growth, great brand reputation and great people,” he said. “The potential with the UK and Singapore business is also attractive.

“The Board has set strong growth targets and I’m very clear that my goal is to build Synergy into a great New Zealand company.”

Retiring CEO David Irving will remain with Synergy for a minimum of three months to facilitate the handover. As a major shareholder, he will remain on the Board as a director and will retain his roles as president of ITANZ and a trustee of the Hi-Growth Project.

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Note to Editors

• Synergy International Ltd is a software services company with 230 staff in offices in Wellington, Auckland, London and Singapore. The company was founded in 1992 and has an annual turnover of $32 million. For more information please visit www.synergy.co.nz

For more information, please contact Desiree Keown, GM Marketing at Synergy on 04 439 4189 or email desiree.keown@synergy.co.nz

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