Blackpearl Group announces leadership changes & hires

Blackpearl Group has announced key leadership changes with the appointment of Jean-Francois Arlove as Chief Financial Officer and the transition of Karen Cargill to the role of Chief Governance Officer.

Jean-Francois Arlove brings over two decades of financial management experience, having held CFO and COO roles in the advertising and marketing sectors. His background includes notable achievements in operational support for fast-growing companies like TBWA New Zealand. "As a business, Blackpearl Group is at an inflection point and now is the time to ensure our systems and processes are designed to scale," said Arlove, highlighting his intent to refine and scale Blackpearl's financial systems.

Arlove expressed his enthusiasm for joining Blackpearl Group, stating, "There aren't many New Zealand companies who have broken into the US market as successfully. Blackpearl Group's team is a team of entrepreneurs and visionaries with the talent to match their ambition. I'm excited about growing our financial team to help fast-track that expansion." He emphasised the importance of trust and data-driven decision-making within the finance team, noting, "Finance teams excel in environments where there is a high degree of trust in their ability to use business cases and data to refine how they operate."

Blackpearl Group's Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Nick Lissette, commented on Arlove's appointment: "Jean has an impressive ability to 'start with the end in mind' when it comes to company finance. As we continue to expand, I'm confident of his ability to bring new levels of rigour to how we approach our financial strategy."

Karen Cargill will transition to the role of Chief Governance Officer, focusing on governance responsibilities amid the company's rapid growth. With her qualifications as a Fellow Chartered Accountant, Chartered Governance Professional, and Chartered Secretary, Cargill will bring her audit expertise to meet NZX financial reporting requirements.

Cargill has been pivotal in Blackpearl Group's successful NZX listing and will now concentrate on governance duties essential for sustainable growth. "I couldn't be more confident in the leadership team we've assembled to ensure our path forward is not only ambitious but also sustainable. Together, we're positioning Blackpearl Group to not only meet the demands of hyper growth; but to lead with precision, accountability and a clear focus on the future," concluded Lissette.