BOARD & EXECUTIVE
ADVISORY

Experienced counsel for leaders carrying responsibility

Independent advice. Perspective. Judgement.

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Leading an organisation can be demanding and, at times, isolating.

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There are moments when a CEO, Exec, board or founder benefits from having someone alongside them who is independent of the organisation, understands the realities of leadership, and is prepared to say what they genuinely think.

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WALLIS&CO provides confidential senior counsel to CEOs, executives, boards and founders navigating significant decisions, organisational complexity, growth and change.

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This is not traditional management consulting and it is not executive coaching.

It is experienced, independent advice from someone who has sat in the CEO chair, led businesses internationally, worked extensively with boards and advised senior leaders through both opportunity and adversity.

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WHERE WE CAN HELP

Every engagement is different, but conversations commonly involve:

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Strategy and direction
Testing strategy, identifying priorities, challenging assumptions and helping leaders create clarity around what matters most.

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CEO counsel
Providing a confidential sounding board for the issues that are difficult to discuss internally — people, performance, relationships, organisational politics, leadership and significant decisions.

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Board and CEO alignment
Helping boards and executives work through expectations, strategic priorities, communication, governance and points of tension.

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Growth and transformation
Supporting leaders as organisations grow, restructure, enter new markets, change direction or navigate periods of significant transition.

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People and leadership
Thinking through senior appointments, team structure, succession, performance issues and the development of leadership capability.

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Complex decisions
Bringing an independent perspective when the answer is not obvious and the consequences matter.

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EXPERIENCE MATTERS

Good advice is different when it comes from someone who has carried responsibility themselves.

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Strahan Wallis has spent more than 25 years advising senior leaders while also building and leading businesses in New Zealand and internationally.

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His career has included senior leadership of Porter Novelli in New Zealand and North America and serving as CEO of Clemenger Group New Zealand, alongside extensive board, governance and advisory experience.

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That combination means the conversation can move comfortably between strategy, commercial performance, people, reputation, governance and leadership. Often they are not separate issues.

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HOW WE WORK

WALLIS&CO is deliberately boutique.

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Strahan works personally with a limited number of CEOs, boards and organisations. Engagements can range from an ongoing advisory relationship to intensive support around a particular decision, transition or challenge.

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The objective is simple:

To help good leaders think clearly, make better decisions and lead well. Sometimes that means providing another perspective. Sometimes it means asking the uncomfortable question. And sometimes it means simply creating the space for a leader to think properly before making an important decision.

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WHO WE WORK WITH

WALLIS&CO typically works with:

• CEOs and senior executives

• Boards and chairs

• Founders and owner-led businesses

• Professional services and agency businesses

• Listed and privately held companies

• Family offices

• Purpose-led and not-for-profit organisations.

Where specialist expertise is required, bespoke teams can also be assembled from an established international network.

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Experienced counsel. Independent perspective. Better decisions.