Rod spent 22 years with the Cable and Wireless Group in Asia and London including 13 years on the main board. He was Executive Director, Far East, Executive Director, Finance, deputy Chief Executive and acting Chief Executive, and a director of numerous public and private subsidiaries including Hong Kong Telecom and Optus Communications. He was a director of Standard Chartered Bank and Singapore Power Telecom and Chairman of Telemedia Networks.

Since retiring from Cable and Wireless Group Rod has been an investor and adviser to a number of early stage companies in Australasia, Asia and Europe.

Chris has extensive experience in investment banking, regulation, private equity, venture capital and consulting in London, Hong Kong and Australasia. He was an adviser to the Cable and Wireless Group in Asia/Pacific between 1987 and 2001, director of Optus Communications, Chairman of the Hong Kong Takeovers Panel, Investment Committee Member of GEMS Oriental & General Fund, consultant to Macquarie Bank, Chairman of New Zealand Venture Investment Fund and Chairman of Phitek Systems. He is currently a director of Macquarie Media Group.

With 17 years experience at senior and board level with high growth technology and telecommunications software companies, Chris Jones is one of New Zealand’s most recognised entrepreneurs. As founder and former CEO of Argent Networks which has successfully expanded into key telecommunications sectors worldwide, as well as founder and CEO of Telemedia, Chris has unrivalled business knowledge of working in global markets.

Chris is currently a director of Phitek Systems and a partner of venture capital company Pioneer Capital.

An Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Chris is a regular speaker and business mentor to companies at the University of Auckland’s Icehouse. He is also an advisor to International Business Wales.