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Home / Venture  / Done Deal: Recent fundings secured, contracts inked and deals did, for the tl;dr crowd

Done Deal: Recent fundings secured, contracts inked and deals did, for the tl;dr crowd

Cognition Education has announced the sale of its interest in global education business, Visible Learningplus (note to readers: that’s the correct name), to international professional learning companyCorwin for an undisclosed sum.

Visible Learningplus is a professional learning programme for educators based on the research of Melbourne University’s professor John Hattie, a leading authority in global educational impact, and is the world’s largest evidence-based school reform model.
Tina Lucas, CEO of Cognition Education Group says: “We are immensely proud of the achievements of Visible Learningplus, not only the impact of our programme on student learning but also the growth we’ve achieved internationally. Cognition Education saw the potential to partner with Professor Hattie to co-develop an educational change programme that can accelerate student achievement and we are delighted Corwin with their experience and resources will continue our work to develop and expand the programme worldwide.”
The sale supports Cognition’s strategic objectives of growing their multi-business family using the collective expertise and experience. With two relatively recent acquisitions including an Australian Early Years & Tutoring franchise Begin Bright and a Wellington-based digital learning organisation, Wavelength, Cognition is turning their attention to the global expansion of these brands as well as its foundation business, Cognition Education, a global education consultancy company.

Independent financial services specialist Consilium announced today that Helen Robertson has joined the company as a business development manager based in Auckland. Robinson will be working with clients across all service areas, offering support, guidance and knowledge to help them grow their businesses.

Robinson joins Consilium from UDC Finance, where she has just completed 11 years, initially as business development manager building the financial adviser channel, then as national sales manager – investments, responsible for all the investment channels, investor services and operations.

Robinson has 30 years’ experience in financial services in a variety of roles, including retail banking, consumer lending, customer service management, trustee services and marketing and business development. “I started working with financial advisers in 1994, and in that time I’ve learned what they need to succeed for their clients, and how I can help. I’m really looking forward to working exclusively with advisers again with Consilium.” 

Robinson has also been a member of the Institute of Financial Advisers for the majority of that time and finished a six-year period as secretary/treasurer for the Auckland IFA branch last September, which included working on three national conference organising committees. In 2015, she was presented the President’s Award for her work with the IFA.

Helen Robinson.

Black Dog Brewery has officially opened its new central Wellington brewery. An opening party took place on Wednesday evening.

Located on Cuba St, Idealog has featured the new building previously

Top Dog Adrian Klemp says: “We’re really excited to finally open our doors in our new Cuba Street location. It was great to gather together with some of our fellow Cuba Street residents and Black Dog friends to celebrate Wellington and the exciting new space for us to brew. We can’t wait to welcome old and new friends into the Brewery.”

The evening was a slice of Cuba Street heaven with guests entertained by an array of all things Wellington including acoustic artist Graeme James, a Wellington local well-known for his humble beginnings as a Cuba Street busker. Guests were treated to a unique culinary experience thanks to well-known street food truck Beat Kitchen serving a bespoke Black Dog-infused menu including Dogfather APA fried chicken, smoked pork and beef meatballs and to top it off a Black IPA chocolate brownie. Guests of the official opening also enjoyed a range of Black Dog collaborations available on tap in the upstairs bar area, including First Responder Pacific Ale, Dogs of Fortune and SPCA Stray-PA.

Black Dog’s new Cuba Street location.

Merino wool apparel maker Icebreaker Holdings has been sold to US-based VF Corporation for at least $100 million.

The deal – among the largest ever for a New Zealand clothing company – was first announced last year, but required approval from New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Office (OIO) because of its size.

The New Zealand Herald reported on Wednesday that Icebreaker was “incredibly excited by the new opportunities.”

Icebreaker apparel.

Tata Consultancy Services, a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation, today announced the appointment of technology executive Brett O’Riley to a senior role.

O’Riley was named advisory chair for the company’s New Zealand operations, with a remit to help shape the TCS business strategy in New Zealand and expand its client base.

The appointment was announced by the head of TCS New Zealand, Rohit Anand, and TCS vice president and ANZ regional head, Anil Snehi.

TCS is India’s largest services company and has announced its intention to expand its New Zealand operations. The company is already helping major New Zealand companies take full advantage of the rapid pace of digital transformation, with clients including many of the NZX TOP 20.

“Brett is an innovative New Zealand businessman and a seasoned executive who has helped drive the successes of the New Zealand technology sector,” says Anand. “He has experience in building business networks and his deep appreciation of the ways in which digital technology is capable of shaping our lives for the better will be invaluable to TCS as we expand our New Zealand operations to meet the needs of our existing clients and expand the business into new sectors.”

Says O’Riley: “Digital technology and its uses are growing at an exponential rate. The advanced work that TCS is doing in fields of robotics, cloud computing, big data and cybersecurity is breathtaking. We have a Silicon Valley in our own hemisphere and we need to work much more closely with it. I’m excited by the possibilities that TCS presents to continue to drive New Zealand’s own global leadership in the fields of technology, research and industry innovation.”

O’Riley has extensive experience in IT, innovation strategy and international business development.  Most recently chief executive of Auckland’s economic growth agency ATEED for five years, O’Riley was previously deputy chief executive, business, innovation and investments, for the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and founding chief executive of NZ Tech, which represents New Zealand’s leading technology companies.

He is an experienced company director and held senior roles during 14 years with the Telecom group (now Spark), including Southern Cross Cable Network.

Brett O’Riley.

Done deal!

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