Mike has been a serial start-up guy. Although he gained entry into the Ilam School of Fine Arts he ended up studying law at university. He never finished his Law degree, but did break the world rocking chair record.
An entertaining speaker with a wealth of experience, Mike is a storyteller who helps audiences think easy rather than hard.
Current work
He was Magazine Business Columnist of the year in 2012. He is also an independent marketing consultant and a director of a number of public and private companies.
Previous experience
Founder: He has founded or co-founded a number of companies in New Zealand including leading advertising agencies, Colenso, and HKM.
Director: He was director of a family building company and had his own Real Estate agency. He started Replica Homes with franchises throughout New Zealand and was formerly managing director at Saatchi & Saatchi.
Start Up: In 2003 he set up The Lighthouse Ideas Company, focusing on innovation and product development. He founded Scarborough Fair - a Fairtrade/organic tea and coffee marketing company, recently sold to Cooks Global Foods. He also planted a vineyard on Waiheke Island and has interests in a wine distribution company selling into the US. In 2008 he helped lead a management buyout of Image Centre Group, a multi-channel communications company.
Author: He writes an innovation column for Idealog magazine and has published four books. In his Master of Philosophy degree (1st Class Honours) his thesis was the alchemy of creativity in New Zealand business.
