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Board and advisors

We've always recognised the role strong governance plays in driving sustainable business growth, so Optimation was one of the of first privately owned New Zealand IT companies to appoint independent non-executive directors.

Neil Butler, Chairman 

Neil Butler

Neil Butler founded Optimation in 1992 and since then he has been committed to seeing the company and the ICT Industry grow, succeed and create employment for New Zealanders.  His entrepreneurial skills together with his professional qualifications and practical industry experience have shaped the success of the company.  Under his leadership, Optimation has grown to be a well-known industry brand and a trusted technology partner to some of the largest organisations in the country.

Neil is actively involved in a number of industry groups including the New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards and is a member of the Institute of Directors. Prior to founding Optimation, Neil worked in marketing, technical and project roles in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Paul Cook

Paul Cook

Paul has worked in London, the US, Asia and New Zealand as a management consultant, and his clients have included some of the New Zealand's largest businesses.

From 1990, he led the EY NZ consulting division and from 1997 onwards he was also a Director of the EY Asia Regional Practice. Following the sale of the global consulting practice to Capgemini, Paul joined Capgemini's Asia Pacific Leadership Team. In 2002, he and two other former partners of EY bought the NZ Capgemini operation. After leading it through a period of rapid growth, they sold the firm to Hewlett-Packard.

Paul is currently on the Boards of Trustees for First Foundation, Hearing House and Ed & Co. He has an MA from Oxford University and is a Member of the Institute of Directors.

David Stewart

David Stewart

David has almost 30 years of experience as a management and IT consultant in the UK and New Zealand. He has held senior roles in the practices of Ernst & Young and CapGemini and latterly was a co-owner of CGNZ prior to its sale to Hewlett Packard. David also held senior executive roles with Carter Holt Harvey and Hewlett Packard. He has specialist expertise in business strategy and transformation.

David has managed numerous large scale programmes both as a consultant and as a CIO.  He currently provides independent business advice to a number of NZ companies.

Ross Hughson

Ross Hughson

Ross is recognised as a thought leader in the IT community and has held some of the most challenging IT leadership roles in New Zealand. The industry recognised this by naming him CIO of the Year in 2000 and since then, he has been the convenor of judges for that award. Ross has also served on a number of international IT advisory boards and corporate governance boards over many years.

Ross has etched out a successful career in Executive and General Management in the public and private sector, primarily focused in IT but also in areas as diverse as Marketing, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Government Policy. He has held senior roles at organisations including the State Services Commission, IRD, Westpac and AXA. His expertise and knowledge encompasses information technology (including large outsourcing projects), significant strategic organisational change, risk management and people leadership.