Our Leadership
Our Executive Leadership Team come from diverse backgrounds as are many of our Managers and Employees. This diversity creates great value for the company and enables us as an organization to be; innovative, responsive to opportunity, embracing of change and dynamic.
Paul Gardiner
Managing Director
Paul is fully responsible for the management and performance of Ovato New Zealand.. With over 25 years’ experience in the publishing and media industry, Paul was most recently Commercial Director of Bauer Media Australia. He led the company’s commercial strategy, playing an instrumental role in transitioning Bauer Media Australia into the dynamic audience-led, multi-channel marketing solutions provider that it is today.
Tony Edwards
General Manager of Ovato Retail Distribution NZ
Tony Edwards was appointed as General Manager of Ovato Retail Distribution (formerly Gordon & Gotch NZ) in July 2017. Prior to this, Tony was based in Sydney, as the Group General Manager for Bauer Media’s retail distribution businesses in Australia and NZ. Tony has extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of magazine retail sales and distribution.
Tony is activity involved in his local community and currently sits on the board of trustees at St Thomas’s primary school where his two children attend.
Anthony Rice
NZ Sales Director
Anthony Rice is the NZ Sales Director at Ovato NZ. Anthony joined Ovato from Stuff NZ, where he was the National Business Director- a position held for over 4 years. Prior to that, he lead the National Sales Team at Stuff (then Fairfax) working with the largest advertising clients in New Zealand. Anthony has extensive online, print, mobile, data, video and programmatic experience from sales and marketing leadership roles in the United States, Australia and New Zealand over the last 25 years. In his spare time, Anthony is a keen mountain biker and skier.
Craig Harrison
NZ Operations Manager
At Ovato New Zealand Craig is responsible for all facets of the company’s sheetfed and web printing operations. Craig has amassed 26 years within the print industry much of which printing the New Zealand Herald at APN Print (Penrose). He has also held senior roles in procurement of paper, sales support and sheet-fed and web operations management. Away from the presses and flouro safety shirts, Craig will be found fishing on the Hauraki Gulf.
Blair Matthews
Residential Distribution Manager
Blair is tasked with ensuring the smooth running of Ovato Residential Distribution including warehousing, letterbox delivery and client services. Prior to joining Ovato, Blair spent 17 years within the Freight Forwarding Industry in various management positions specialising in Operations, Supply Chain and Business Development. Blair is committed to providing a customer experience that meets expectations and adds value to your business.