Gravelroad broadens its horizons

Gravelroad broadens its horizons

Gravelroad is broadening its horizons with the addition of two new directors and expansion of its professional management consulting services.

Sheila McLeod and Martin Butler have joined David Skinner, Ian Gordon and Frank Verver in the trans-Tasman business that has offices in Auckland, Wellington, Canberra and Brisbane.

Butler says Gravelroad's "hands on" approach lured him from his role as managing director at Optimation New Zealand.

"Gravelroad's approach to consultancy is different in that all the directors are involved in the delivery of outcomes. We roll up our sleeves and help do the work," Butler says.

McLeod says that point of difference also attracted her.

"We provide knowledge workers. That is, our consultants are senior and experienced and the directors are industry experts. The directors have all worked at telcos, as well as for big corporates, both in New Zealand and internationally," she says.

"We don't employ graduates so when one of the directors takes the business, they see it through."

McLeod, who moved to New Zealand from the UK five years ago, says she is a "willing nomad" and likes Gravelroad's ability to work with clients throughout Australia and New Zealand. Directors are based in both countries and can easily travel to meet clients' needs.

Drawing on the strengths of the "new blood", Gravelroad's specialist offerings are:

* Business strategy; senior advice for senior people - headed by Martin Butler

* Business economics; enabling informed decision making for leaders - headed by David Skinner

* Engineering services; understanding, selecting and delivering optimised technology

- headed by Ian Gordon (Australia)

* Programme and project services; translating strategy into real outcomes - jointly headed by Sheila McLeod in New Zealand and Frank Verver in Australia.

"Of course there is cross-over, so having this depth of expertise enables Gravelroad to critically think through the opportunities and challenges facing a business, then achieve measurable economic outcomes," McLeod says.

"One of the things we pride ourselves on is seeing it through. We work through each project by helping implement the advice and delivering the recommended services, changes or technology."

Butler believes having people working in both the New Zealand and Australian markets, with a depth of experience and familiarity with the business environment they are advising on is critical.

"We are not a fly in and fly out consultancy. We take a journey with our clients and believe it is important to get things right from the start. A strategic and planned decision-making sequence should result in buy in that causes people to act in a different way, for better economic results."

Gravelroad works across the private and public sector in information technology, telecommunications, energy, banking and with large asset utilities such as KiwiRail, Meridian, Chorus, Auckland Airport and Exxon Mobil. For more information www.gravelroad.co.nz.

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Background on new directors:

Martin Butler is a skilled strategist and ICT professional at CEO level with a strong results orientation. He spent 11 years at Telecom, was General Manager Telecom Mobile and the commercial architect of the W850 (XT) network. He was most recently managing director at Optimation New Zealand. Martin has an MBA with distinction from Victoria University with a focus on industrial economics. He heads business strategy for Gravelroad

Sheila McLeod is an experienced executive level IT professional with a strong technical background. She moved to New Zealand from the UK five years ago. In New Zealand she has worked for Contact Energy and was most recently Head of IT Operations & Testing and Head of the PMC for Vodafone New Zealand. Sheila studied teaching at Oxford University. She jointly heads the programme & project services for Gravelroad with Frank Verver (based in Australia).

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