Simpl steams ahead with new CEO

Simpl steams ahead with new CEO

New Zealand software company The Simpl Group has appointed IT veteran Verdon Kelliher as its new CEO. From 1 October, Verdon will succeed CEO and Founder Bennett Medary, who will remain with the company as Executive Chair.

Mr Medary says the timing is right for fresh leadership as the business has recently secured a number of significant deals building information exchange platforms.

A multi-million dollar contract to provide a shared care platform for health and community services in the UK, together with the e-pharmacy platforms in Australia and New Zealand - and similar new projects in the FMCG market - are some recent initiatives exemplifying the company’s new direction

“We are entering an era where companies are beginning to realise that joining up information between related organisations can dramatically transform an entire industry,” says Mr Medary. “There are huge new business opportunities for those that can find new ways of engaging with their supply chain, customer or market segment using a shared information platform. One only has to look at Fonterra’s Online Global Trading System to appreciate how rapidly the global market can be taken to a new paradigm.”

Speaking about the new appointment, Bennett Medary said:

“Verdon has a very strong record of growing businesses through great teamwork, based on a very solid work ethic and set of values, which are very much in sync with Simpl. I was extraordinarily impressed with the respect he’s gained from his customers and industry colleagues. He is a great choice to lead the company through this next growth phase.”

Mr Kelliher comes to Simpl from software services company Optimation, where he is credited with having led significant business improvement. He was also with Logical Networks when it was acquired by IBM in 2004, staying with IBM for another five years to lead its global technology services business. While at Logical he created a start-up business which went on to become New Zealand’s largest data cabling company.

Incoming CEO Verdon Kelliher said he was attracted to the future growth opportunities at the Simpl:

“I am really excited about the opportunity to join Simpl. I admire their core values and I’ve always been envious of the relationships that they maintain with their customers. I’m really looking forward to being part of a thriving business with lots of further potential for growth”

As Executive Chairman, Bennett will remain active with the company, primarily establishing new partnerships and joint venture opportunities in New Zealand and overseas. He will also continue his role on the Board of NZICT, promoting and supporting technology-enabled advances for NZ Inc.

About The Simpl Group
Simpl is a New Zealand owned software services company that builds information exchanges connecting organisations with shared communities of interest all around the world. The company was founded in 1994, and has offices in New Zealand in the UK. For more information, please visit www.simplgroup.com.

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