As an executive leader, I thrive in dynamic organisations that make a positive impact on the customers and communities they serve. I have a history of delivering substantial financial results, enhancing operational performance, and increasing customer satisfaction in both public and private sectors through customer centricity, business renewal and modernisation. My leadership centres on developing and nurturing (often turning around) teams to become high-performing, actively engaging and committing to apply continuous learning and growth – including digital and commencing the journey of AI as an enabler. This people-centred approach has consistently produced outstanding outcomes, benefiting customers, stakeholders, and communities. Earlier in my career I held executive leadership positions for Supply Chain, Product Portfolios and Marketing.I have extensive experience in setting strategic direction and leading diverse teams of up to 350 full-time employees, sponsored key strategic programmes, managed revenue portfolios up to $550 million, and overseen operating budgets of $60 million, $100 million capital investment budgets and overseen commercial supply contracts valued at approximately $400 million. My strong background in strategic marketing, product portfolio management, channel development, customer experience leadership, and supply chain management enable me to excel in reducing costs, improving operational efficiencies and leading comprehensive business transformations.I flourish in navigating complexity and overcoming challenging situations, especially those related to growth, business sustainability, and intense competition. My primary focus is to make a significant impact on people’s lives and continuously adapt and innovate to meet the rapidly changing needs and expectations of customers, employees, and stakeholders. This commitment, along with my wide range of skills and experience, has enabled me to successfully lead large-scale transformations in complex environments, delivering considerable value to customers and stakeholders, as well as increased business agility and commercial value. My dedication to customer centricity, excellence and innovation has consistently been a driving force for change and progress in all my roles.
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Board DirectorNational Ticketing Board - Public Transport Ticketing Oct 2022 - Dec 2023National Ticketing partnership between the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and 13 Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) to deliver single national payment system for all public transport in New Zealand.
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Executive General Manager Customer Experience. Kaiwhakahaere Matua Kiritaki-WheakoAuckland Transport Sep 2018 - Dec 2023Auckland, Auckland, NzExecutive leadership team member with functional responsibility for the Customer Experience (CX) Division of ~350 FTE - customer / data analytics and market insights, digital customer channels and customer service (11 service centres, 200+ retailers, call centre and case management), retail and service operations, agile product ownership, human-centred design, brand, marketing, out of home media assets revenue and road safety education.Auckland Transport, an Auckland Council Controlled organisation (CCO) oversees all transport operations, including roading, wharves, cycling, walking design, build and maintenance, public transport services, and road safety initiatives. Amidst Auckland's growth, the Board recognised the need for a strategic customer focus, often overlooked by an engineering-centric culture. They endorsed a new executive role to lead the organisation to be more responsive to and customers and improve the everyday experiences of people travelling on Auckland’s transport system. -
General Manager Network TransformationNew Zealand Post Apr 2016 - Feb 2018Wellington, NzNew Zealand Post Network of the Future Programme. Largest transformation in 175 year history. Delivered 4 year programme outcomes completing February 2018Led an ambitious and complex transformation programme over multiple processing and delivery sites and business units throughout New Zealand on an accelerated timeline, impacting the roles and work activities of employees and contractors. This included;- Modernising the national processing network through the global procurement of mail and parcel processing machines and advanced recognition technology. - Implementing integrated mail and courier parcel delivery in major metros and cities throughout New Zealand. Introduction of new to market fleet of ~450 electric vehicles, change from traditional postie to Delivery Agent role with reset of schedules, remuneration, product carried and scanning technology, new operating model and contracts for 210 provincial towns. -
Mail Processing Optimisation And Innovation. Network TransformationNew Zealand Post Nov 2013 - Apr 2016Wellington, NzNew Zealand Post Network of the Future programme.Business Owner and Lead responsible for:- Implementing a reconfiguration New Zealand Post’s national mail network, facilitating a ‘per item’ cost reduction through the rationalisation of processing sites and significant improvement in utilisation and productivity of processing assets- Integration of leadership and support structures in Provincial sites. First structural integration of NZ Post mail and ECL (Courier Post) parcels business to streamline operationsConsolidated 6 national mail processing centres from 6 to 3 and 48 and ~50 provincial processing sites into the 3 nodes in Auckland, Christchurch and Manawatu in 14 months (versus planned business case timeline of 36 months). Mail service standard and key customers maintained. Recognised by NZ Post Board and Executive team for “developing a great blueprint for managing complex change and involving multiple teams to produce a highly successful outcome”. The success of this initiative was credited with building Board and organisational confidence to invest in the next stages of the programme -
Elected Chair Board Of Trustees Hingaia Peninsula School.Hingaia Peninsula School Oct 2013 - Jun 2016
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Director Sales And Marketing. Executive TeamManukau Institute Of Technology May 2012 - Jun 2013Manukau, Auckland, NzExecutive Director -
General Manager TransformationVodafone New Zealand Nov 2010 - Dec 2011London, GbFixed term transformation contract -
Business Consultant On Assignment At Gen-I And Vodafone New ZealandSpark Digital Nz Dec 2009 - Nov 2010Consulting projects
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Head Of Supply Chain & Procurement. Supply Chain TransformationSpark New Zealand Jun 2008 - Nov 2009Auckland, Auckland, NzSenior leadership team. Supply chain transformation -
Head Of Service Design & DevelopmentSpark New Zealand Oct 2003 - May 2008Auckland, Auckland, NzCustomer experience design and service execution -
General Manager Marketing. Executive TeamLotto New Zealand Jun 2001 - Jul 2003Auckland, Auckland, NzExecutive team - NZ Lotteries Commission -
Ebrand Strategist And Business Development - ContractRestaurant Brands Ltd Jun 2000 - Apr 2001NzFixed term contract - new business model evaluation and pilots -
Marketing Manager Mobile Solutions (Mobile, Payphones And Cards2Go)Spark New Zealand Apr 1998 - Jul 1999Auckland, Auckland, NzMobile services marketing / revenue growth and customer acquisition and retention -
Marketing Managment And Product Management Roles In Mobile, Tolls, Distribution Strategy - PromotedSpark New Zealand Feb 1994 - Mar 1998Auckland, Auckland, NzLong distance and enhanced services marketing / revenue growth and customer retention and acquisition
Vanessa Ellis Education Details
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Stanford University Graduate School Of BusinessLeading Change And Organisational Renewal -
Institute Of Directors In New ZealandGovernance -
Harvard Business School Executive EducationExecutive Programme Strategic Negotiation -
University Of OtagoMarketing -
Massey UniversityMarketing -
Nzdma New Zealand Marketing AssociationDirect Marketing -
Sales & Marketing Executives Institute (Smei), New ZealandKey Account Management & Sales -
Harvard Business School Executive Education
Frequently Asked Questions about Vanessa Ellis
What is Vanessa Ellis's role at the current company?
Vanessa Ellis's current role is Executive Leader | Chief Customer Officer | Chief Operating Officer | Accomplished in Business Transformation, Strategic Execution, Operations Excellence and Customer-Centric Innovation I Governance.
What schools did Vanessa Ellis attend?
Vanessa Ellis attended Stanford University Graduate School Of Business, Institute Of Directors In New Zealand, Harvard Business School Executive Education, University Of Otago, Massey University, Nzdma New Zealand Marketing Association, Sales & Marketing Executives Institute (Smei), New Zealand, Harvard Business School Executive Education.
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