CEO Today Global Awards

Commencing in 2014, he serves as EVP, Chair of GPA CEO Group, Board Member of GPA BV. For over 6 years, Eric has been intimately involved in the ongoing development of the GPA; a billion dollar organization with over 200 offices and almost 3000 staff with AV and UC delivery and services capability in over 50 countries, easily the largest of its kind in the world. Since being intimately involved in the GPA’s strategic formation as a Dutch corporate entity (BV) the GPA comprises a unique company of market-leading collaboration, audio-visual solutions and managed services business units, applying global standards in order to efficiently and effectively deliver collaboration solutions for multi-national corporate clients worldwide. Serving since 2014 on the GPA Board, in 2019 Eric was appointed to the leadership role for the GPA CEO group, advancing the sharing, learning and collaboration of 25 CEO colleagues from the GPA regional business units. Chief Executive Officer Asnet Technologies Ltd (New Zealand) Acquiring Asnet in 2011, through alignment and focused development of its own internal capabilities and numerous significant market, technology and skills differentiators, including development of strategic partnerships with major IT service providers, Asnet is now the leading NZ-based provider of audio visual and collaboration services in NZ and, through its appointment as the GPA NZ member, uniquely for the Company, an ability to provide the same services and solutions in over 50 countries. Continuing to drive differentiation, in mid-2015 Asnet was appointed as the first authorised reseller for the Microsoft Surface Hub in NZ and in 2016, recognising the strategic importance and credibility of international standards, attained ISO 9001 certification, another unique market differentiator. From 2016, as well as winning for three years running the ‘best AV Project in NZ’ Asnet was nominated for Microsoft Partner of the Year in 2017. Years 2018, 2019 and 2020 saw Asnet presented with the GPA Award for Global Deployment Excellence and in 2020 Eric himself was selected by his international peers and awarded the Global Leadership Award. Member of Global Partner Advisory Council for Microsoft Collaboration Devices From 2017, Eric was an invited member of Microsoft’s global Partner Advisory Council for the Surface Hub, representing the Asia Pacific region alongside international fellow AV and Collaboration integrators and service partners during the Hub’s original and subsequent version’s critical market global launch phase. His role was to share market-leading system integrator and ongoing support services experience and opinions with senior officers of Microsoft, helping steer the strategic direction and development of Teams collaboration devices and associated services. Post initial acquisition of Asnet in 2011, Eric established a new strategic direction for the Company, from that of distribution of video conferencing technology to a full audio, video, unified communications and now collaboration device service provider. Formed in 1999, Asnet comprises 28 staff in 3 cities; Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Every day Asnet pro-actively monitors and manages video-end points and AV collaboration spaces in schools, leading NZ corporations, financial institutions and numerous Government agencies throughout NZ and the world. In April of 2019, Asnet was acquired by New Era Inc, a leading IT Services supplier in USA, UK, NZ and Australia. Head of Global Telecommunications; Bovis Lend Lease Group For 4 years prior to acquiring Asnet, reporting to CEO Global Markets, Eric was initially appointed SVP for the regional telecommunications business in Asia Pacific. Leading a small global development team this grew into a highly successful and profitable Division in specialized telecommunications project management sector, after two years resulting in heading Bovis Lend Lease Global Telecommunications business with responsibility for strategy formulation and overseeing implementation, leading all Global client and major vendor relationships in a small leadership team comprising four SVP-level direct reports. Eric’s family home is in Auckland New Zealand. He and his wife have three now grown children, each born in different countries. CEO Today Global Awards 2020 NEW ZEALAND 37 www.ceotodaymagazine.com