"The outcomes that give me most satisfaction are where we have been able to help clients sharpen their growth strategies and help them attract the key resources to accelerate those strategies"
What led you to focus on the TMT space?
For me it started at university doing an electronic engineering degree, at the time the Apple II was new and the department was the proud owner of a DEC PDP11 mini computer, I was pretty rubbish with a soldering iron and it was thrilling to find that with the new microprocessers and ASIC’s you could create major functions in software. I was fortunate enough in my final year to work with a partner who was gifted in hardware so that I could get completed obsessed with writing assembler code.
I drifted through various technical jobs in mainframe systems support until boredom set in and following a full-time MBA and a couple of years in the strategy practice of Andersen Consulting I was fortunate enough to get a job with a local venture capital firm that specialised in the technology sector.
So in reflection, my whole career has been based around TMT, but my interests have shifted over time from how the technology works, then into finding ways to apply technology to improve organisations and eventually realising I was more interested in working out how to create and capture value through building companies that used technology to disrupt existing ways of doing things.
How do you explain what you do to people outside the industry?
Basically we are a sales organisation, but in order to do our jobs we need to get deeply into the detail of understanding our client’s business and industry in order that we can ensure that their business strategy stacks up in the context of their specific niche in the technology industry sector. In the case of a trade-sale engagement we spend a lot of time trying to work out who are the logical buyer and trying to assess the motivations and value drivers that could to the buyer paying more than a ‘reasonable’ price based on the strategic value to their business. To this do this well, we also do a whole bunch of financial analysis and industry research in preparation and support for a complex negotiation process dealing with lots of individuals typically operating with a range of personal and organisational agendas.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
The outcomes that give me most satisfaction are where we have been able to help clients sharpen their growth strategies and help them attract the key resources to accelerate those strategies. Sometimes that is bringing in new investors, other times it is bringing in a strategic partner who is able to add more than money.
What gives you the greatest satisfaction in the work you do at Nextec?
I love the opportunity to work with senior managers and shareholders in on strategically orientated sales processes - starting with digging out the story that highlights the businesses special strengths and ends with a transaction that delivers a good result for everyone involved .
Outside of your professional role what activities do you enjoy engaging in?
I am lucky enough to be able to enjoy time with my wife and our three kids, outside of that I find training in Brazilian Ju Jitsu a great way to stay fit and for fun I am learning jazz guitar.
For me it started at university doing an electronic engineering degree, at the time the Apple II was new and the department was the proud owner of a DEC PDP11 mini computer, I was pretty rubbish with a soldering iron and it was thrilling to find that with the new microprocessers and ASIC’s you could create major functions in software. I was fortunate enough in my final year to work with a partner who was gifted in hardware so that I could get completed obsessed with writing assembler code.
I drifted through various technical jobs in mainframe systems support until boredom set in and following a full-time MBA and a couple of years in the strategy practice of Andersen Consulting I was fortunate enough to get a job with a local venture capital firm that specialised in the technology sector.
So in reflection, my whole career has been based around TMT, but my interests have shifted over time from how the technology works, then into finding ways to apply technology to improve organisations and eventually realising I was more interested in working out how to create and capture value through building companies that used technology to disrupt existing ways of doing things.
How do you explain what you do to people outside the industry?
Basically we are a sales organisation, but in order to do our jobs we need to get deeply into the detail of understanding our client’s business and industry in order that we can ensure that their business strategy stacks up in the context of their specific niche in the technology industry sector. In the case of a trade-sale engagement we spend a lot of time trying to work out who are the logical buyer and trying to assess the motivations and value drivers that could to the buyer paying more than a ‘reasonable’ price based on the strategic value to their business. To this do this well, we also do a whole bunch of financial analysis and industry research in preparation and support for a complex negotiation process dealing with lots of individuals typically operating with a range of personal and organisational agendas.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
The outcomes that give me most satisfaction are where we have been able to help clients sharpen their growth strategies and help them attract the key resources to accelerate those strategies. Sometimes that is bringing in new investors, other times it is bringing in a strategic partner who is able to add more than money.
What gives you the greatest satisfaction in the work you do at Nextec?
I love the opportunity to work with senior managers and shareholders in on strategically orientated sales processes - starting with digging out the story that highlights the businesses special strengths and ends with a transaction that delivers a good result for everyone involved .
Outside of your professional role what activities do you enjoy engaging in?
I am lucky enough to be able to enjoy time with my wife and our three kids, outside of that I find training in Brazilian Ju Jitsu a great way to stay fit and for fun I am learning jazz guitar.