Westpac Smarts - Building Business Value, Succession and Choice

Description

Exiting a business is one of the most significant decisions an owner will make, yet many leave succession and exit planning until it's too late to achieve the best possible outcome.

Brought to you in partnership with Westpac New Zealand, this Westpac Smarts event will explore how business owners can take a strategic approach to exit planning well before they are ready to step away. The session will examine the key elements of a successful business exit from strategic, people, and financial perspectives. 

We are delighted to be joined by guest speaker Jenny Stilwell, an Australian-based strategy consultant and advisor, who will draw on insights from her new book Value First, Exit Later: Strategies to build a valuable business, so you can scale, stay involved, or sell - on your terms.  Jenny will share practical strategies for building business value, creating transferable businesses, and increasing the options available when the time comes to exit. Having led organisations as a CEO and built and grown her own successful businesses, Jenny understands firsthand the challenges facing business owners and leaders.
 
To continue the discussion, Jenny will take part in a panel Q&A session facilitated by Brigitta Warren, Director of RecruitNet alongside panellists:
• PJ Cairns, Executive Director - Head of Loan Product at Westpac
• Quinton de Bruin, Investment Advisor at Craigs Investment Partners; and
• Peter Pooran, Chair of the Board of Directors at Stainless Design Ltd
 
Together, they will provide valuable insights to help business owners prepare for the future and maximise the opportunities available when the time comes to transition.


Please email events@waikatochamber.co.nz to submit a question to the speakers.

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Speakers
Jenny Stilwell is an Australian business strategist, adviser and author who specialises in helping business owners build valuable, transferable businesses. Through her advisory work and latest book, Jenny will provide practical frameworks to help owners create greater business value, and more options when it comes time to exit.

Brigitta Warren is Director of RecruitNet and a highly respected recruitment and workforce specialist. With extensive experience supporting businesses across New Zealand, Brigitta will explore the role of succession planning, leadership development and talent strategies that help organisations achieve long-term sustainability. 

Quinton de Bruin is an Investment Advisor with Craigs Investment Partners. He works with business owners and investors to develop wealth strategies that support long-term financial goals, including business succession and exit planning. Quinton will discuss how business owners can align their exit planning with broader wealth creation and financial goals.

Peter Pooran is the Chair of the Board of Directors and a shareholder at Stainless Design Ltd. Prior to this, he held the role of CEO from 2014 to 2023 and led a management buy-out of the business from its founder in 2016. Peter will share Stainless Design's succession journey, including how the business transitioned from founder-led ownership, developed its next generation of leaders, and structured the business to enable key people to step into leadership while creating an exit pathway for existing owners.