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Movers and shakers: Nicholas Fourie expands ICT leadership team at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Movers and shakers: Nicholas Fourie expands ICT leadership team at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Dana Thomas

Dana Thomas

Credit: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Nicholas Fourie, vice president - ICT at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, appoints two new members of his senior leadership team following a six-month search.

“These roles are critical to the success of our digital function and ultimately are key in ensuring our success in supporting the business strategy,” says Fourie, on the appointment of Colin Coutts as head of ICT operations and Dana Thomas as head of solutions development.

Colin Coutts came from Fisher & Paykel Appliances, where he looked after ICT operations globally.

Colin Coutts Credit: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Colin Coutts

“This new role is a senior contributor to the digital function and tasked with ‘keeping the lights on’ globally, but also ensuring the end user experience for our people is something to remember,” says Fourie.

“There is a strong focus on world leading digital productivity tools, or what we call our Digital Workplace Journey,” he adds. “This is the ability for our people to come to work every day and have technology not get in the way, but rather be used as things that enhance and support our great culture.”

Dana Thomas came from Orion Health, and took over the role previously held by Fourie.

Nicholas FourieCredit: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Nicholas Fourie

“We took a long time to fill this role as we were looking for a particular skill set, that is the ability to treat internally targeted solutions like products that are sold and marketed to the public,” explains Fourie.

“The key here is that our people should have no lesser experience that what a paying customer would.”

 Matthew SinclairCredit: Potentia
Matthew Sinclair

Technology and change recruiter Potentia, has awarded the 2020 University of Auckland Undergraduate Scholarship in Computer Science to Matthew Sinclair

The scholarship, now on its eighth year, offers financial support, and a graduate-in-residence opportunity.

“Our partnership with the University of Auckland, and the School of Computer Science in particular, has come a long way over the years,” says Nathan Bryant-Taukiri, managing director at Potentia, during the award ceremony.

“For us, it’s always been about giving back to the tech community and doing our part to bridge the gap between education and the workforce – it’s what this partnership has been built on.”    

In 2020, Sinclair will enter the final year of a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts conjoint degree, where he majors in Computer Science, Physiology and Psychology. 

“We’re excited to do everything we can to help him along the way,” says Bryant-Taukiri. “He’ll experience first-hand the tech entrepreneur’s journey; connecting with founders, tech leaders and future peers. We’ll connect him with great opportunities and arm him with the skills to make the most of these.”

Sinclair is joined at the ceremony by four University of Auckland faculty members: Professor John Hosking, dean of the Faculty of Science; associate professor Ewan Tempero, School of Computer Science; Anastasia Papadakis, development manager, Faculty of Science; and Dr. Joerg Wicker, senior lecturer, School of Computer Science. 

Nathan Bryant-Taukiri, John Hosking, Matthew Sinclair, Joerg Wicker, Abinesh Krishan, Ewan Tempero, Anastasia PapadakisCredit: Potentia
Nathan Bryant-Taukiri, John Hosking, Matthew Sinclair, Joerg Wicker, Abinesh Krishan, Ewan Tempero, Anastasia Papadakis

We Are Frank founder Benjamin Searancke purchases a stake in software and mobile app solutions startup Double Yolk. 

Double Yolk was recently valued by an independent valuer at $2.3 million after only its first 12 months of business. 

“Double Yolk gives us an immediate resource, expertise and technology to offer robust solutions that integrate the 'bricks and mortar world' with the 'digital world’,” says Searancke.

"We’re also investing in a first-class human in regards to their founder, Jack Coleman. He's young, hungry and smarter than me - working with Jack has been inspiring to say the least. I’m looking forward to what 2020 brings,” says Searancke.

“We Are Frank are evolving quickly in the digital advertising sector and Ben’s guidance will encourage us to further push the boundaries,” says Jack Coleman. 

“We’ve worked on a number of projects together over the last six months and the synergies between the businesses are strong. We are Frank are redefining how digital infrastructure can play a role in the marketing funnel and aren’t afraid to challenge the norm. ‘Frankly’, so are we.”

Jack Coleman and Benjamin SearanckeCredit: We are Frank
Jack Coleman and Benjamin Searancke

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Tags Mergers and acquisitionscareermentoringchief digital officerglobal ciopotentiaupskillingFisher & Paykel HealthcareNicholas Fouriecontinuous learningfuture workplaceleadership

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