Wellington businessman Jim Donovan has been appointed CEO of Synergy International, taking over from retiring CEO and company co-founder David Irving. Formerly CEO and co-owner of DeltecTelesystems, a technology company which employed more than 200 staff and contractors, Donovan has in recent years owned investment company Isambard.
In 2000, Deltec was named the High Growth Company of the Year and Supreme Award winner at the New Zealand HiTech Awards. The company was sold to a US corporation in 2001.
Donovan has also held management roles in distribution and technology businesses in Britain and New Zealand and was a consulting partner at Ernst & Young.
He takes up his new role today.
Retiring CEO Irving will remain with Synergy for a minimum of three months to facilitate the handover. As a major shareholder, he will remain on the board as a director and will retain his roles as president of ITANZ and a trustee of the Hi-Growth Project.
Irving wouldn’t comment when asked if Donovan’s investment company, Isambard, had taken a position in Synergy.