Kevin Chappell - Principal Director

0295-974739
kevin@talentnow.co.nz

Prior to this, I spent nearly fifteen years as Principal and Managing Director of a high profile and respected group of recruitment companies which had a strong market presence.  I sold the company in 2006 and sadly in the recession, the brand disappeared.

My history - for what it's worth - is that I spent many years with recruitment organisations in Australia and New Zealand, a total of more than 28 years industry experience.  In the mid-1980's, I saw a gap in the market and pioneered the concept of professional contracting in New Zealand and led a strong market change to adopt a new way of staffing organisations with flexible resource.

I try to think "outside of the square", and through this type of thinking, introduced new services such as recruitment on a time and materials basis and other innovations that have now become mainstream in the recruitment sector. When I was told that radio was a great medium to promote, my then advertising person counselled me against it - saying it wouldn't work.  It did, and our relationship ceased quite quickly!!  People still remember years later some of the stories and the fact that we were there.

In an industry usually plagued by high turnover, I was able to keep people for ages, and some of those relationships endure today - John for one.  I also recognised that there are two "customers" - clients and candidates - and introduced general registration of candidates well in advance of what is now standard industry practice.

I established talentnow! in recognition of the increasing skill shortage in New Zealand's fast growth regional areas (and because I couldn't operate in Auckland..), with the view of developing it into a fully fledged national recruitment business with full North and South Island representation. We have this and in spite of the recession, we're achieving great results.  My philosphy?  Don't give up and keep going until you find the right person - they are out there.  And I make sure that every client feels I have taken a fair value approach.

Peter Webster - Consulting Associate

021-534000
peter@talentnow.co.nz

Peter has many years of experience in recruiting.  He was Director of Auckland-based Personnel Professionals during the 80s and 90s. This was a consultancy distinguished by fine ethics, lean processes, and was an early adopter of information technology. This created a profile which attracted many high-calibre people to its staff and became a successful employment brand in itself.

With a special interest in the essentials of the recruitment process, Peter produced a dissertation on this subject which he included as part of a masters degree in business. The company was eventually acquired by an American multinational.

Peter recently returned to the industry after several years in business consultancy across several industry sectors, including IT and Engineering.  He is developing a fresh interest in the application of technology-based processes in the delivery of recruitment solutions.

In a market that has changed considerably in the last 12 months alone, Peter is active with companies where there is demand for excellence at price levels aligned to the market environment, and where clients require an involvement that may be widened or adapted to suit their needs.

In a market sullied by inexperienced operators, Peter recognises the demand for pinpoint accuracy when matching the resource to the need, and producing an outcome within an expected timeframe. With an open, creative disposition Peter has proven skills to be effective in this demanding economic environment.

John Keesing - Consulting Associate

021-649920
john@talentnow.co.nz

John entered the recruitment industry in 1997 with the specialist professional contracting firm established by talentnow! Principal Director Kevin Chappell.

John is a qualified accountant with a Diploma in Business (Finance). On being accepted into the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand he joined KPMG in London for a two-year stint doing auditing work mixed with the compulsory overseas experience. Accepting a senior accounting role for Ford Motor Company in Bermuda, John had responsibility for the co-ordination of a major part of Ford's worldwide insurance coverage. After several years he joined an independent management company on the island and managed the insurance, reinsurance, and treasury functions of several large captive companies for large US corporations - including a pool of Fortune 500 companies with difficult to insure casualty risks.

Returning to New Zealand John enjoyed a 10-year period with major New Zealand office equipment companies Fuji Xerox and Blue Star Group. His roles included National Administration Manager at Fuji Xerox with special responsibility for the finance company. Recognising his skills and management experience the owners of the Blue Star Group approached John to become General Manager of the Groups finance company - a position he held until early 1997 when he joined the recruitment industry.

John focuses on providing relationship based solutions to the recruitment process and seeks to ensure lasting outcomes for both clients and candidates. He is a specialist in the recruitment of both permanent staff and professional contracting talent in the areas of HR, finance and administration, logistics, sales and marketing, project and general management. He is effective in the range of positions from support staff to GM/CEO.

Murray Ramsay - Consulting Associate

027 4849493
murray.ramsay@talentnow.co.nz

I commenced in IT Recruitment in 1985 when I joined Wilson & White Associates Ltd. In 1987 with two others, we formed Qube Associates and I was a co-owner and Director through until 2005. During my time with Qube, I specialised in Operations, Technical, Functional Consultants as well as Development, and also recruited for the Administration and Financial functions. I was also was responsible for the marketing and selling in the IT Recruitment industry here in New Zealand, as well as overseas in South Africa, Britain and Australia. I formed Ramsay & Associates in 2006 specialising in IT Recruitment and has had associations with two Auckland based Companies.

Like the other Murray, I’m a Southerner, and was born and bred in Southland, attending Southland Boys High School and continuing my education at Lincoln University in the 1960’s attaining an Agricultural Diploma in Wool Management. I played cricket for 43 years and was a playing member of the Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club for 16 years, one of the largest clubs in Auckland. In other sporting matters, I supported my daughter as a Referee and Linesman when she played soccer for Pakuranga, Fencibles, Three Kings and Mt. Wellington clubs and this continued when she played for Auckland under age groups.

My belief is that recruitment has to offer clients fair value and highly competent service as we source and secure your most valuable asset – your people.

Simon Wilson - Consulting Associate

027 7335331
simon@talentnow.co.nz

Simon is our Consulting Associate based in the Capital.  He has 10 years experience in the Wellington recruitment industry and whilst commencing his career in recruitment specialising in IT, he has broadened his experience in recent years,  handling executive placements for both contract and permanent positions for both public and private sector clients. 

His last position involved rebuilding and mentoring the recruitment teams for two different international consultancies in Wellington, with great success achieved.  Simon believes that building a strong team culture is as important as securing the appropriate skills for the role. At the same time, he was consulting to a dedicated client base, proving that leading from the front is what works today.

Simon has an intuitive and pragmatic approach to recruitment and takes pride in his ability to build strong relationships with both clients and candidates through his open and consultative manner.  He is regarded as a friendly, diligent and sociable person who has high personal expectations of himself. 

His fully aligned belief in the approach that the talentnow! team is taking to the new resourcing environment sees him taking a lead in a market that often determines how the rest of the country operates.

Murray Carter - South Island Managing Associate

029-2007821
murray@talentnow.co.nz

Welcome to the Mainland! 

It’s great to be part of a company blazing a new trail in cost effective and value for money recruitment.  I reckon we must be the most experienced "young" recruitment company in New Zealand!

Speaking of experience, I’ve spent eight years in HR, recruiting great people for great companies in Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch. 

In Auckland I was National Sales Manager for the largest recruitment company on the planet managing a sales budget of $45m culminating in the total staffing for the Americas Cup 2000.  It was also a privilege to serve for four years on the Board of the Sales and Marketing Institute.

In the 80’s I completed a post graduate Diploma in Business Administration at the University of Canterbury and spent four years as a Business Consultant working with the owners of small to medium sized businesses advising on succession planning – developing exit strategies from the business.  This has given me real insights into the challenges of business ownership and the critical importance of having the right people in the right positions on your "bus" as Jim Collins calls it in his highly recommended book on business management; "From Good to Great”.

And for all you wonderful Southern people, I’m one of you!  Brought up in St Clair, Dunedin and an Old Boy of Kings High School...

In talking to business owners and senior managers one thing is plain, the second decade of the 21^st Century will be radically different to the first.  "Productivity", "Cost Effectiveness" (read that as "Value for Money"), and "Accountability" are words that I hear used frequently.  The same goes for us in the way we work with our clients and candidates.  Lean, value add, and very results driven you could say…

We are getting more and more clients and candidates contacting us via Skype and are finding it a great way to meet "face-to-face".  It’s just one of the ways we connect across the country in a way to deliver outstanding service to both clients and candidates.

Inge Chappell - Director Marketing & Technology

0295-622511
inge@talentnow.co.nz

Inge began her career in the recruitment industry in 1993, working as a marketing consultant to Morgan & Banks. After gaining her degree in marketing and international business, she extended her experience in the professional services sector working in the non-for-profit, telecommunications and travel sectors as a marketing services specialist before co-joining Kevin in operating his group of recruitment companies.

Today, Inge is the Director for talentnow! responsible for the Marketing and Technology side of the business. She also runs a successful marketing & IT consultancy business alongside her talentnow! commitments and is establishing herself as a successful glass artist in her spare time.