EY New Zealand appoints Willett & Bremner to tech roles

EY New Zealand has appointed Mike Willett as Tech Consulting Lead and Rob Bremner as SAP Lead, expanding its technology transformation leadership in New Zealand.

Willett will broaden his existing remit to help lead the next phase of EY's technology consulting practice in Aotearoa. Bremner joins to strengthen the firm's SAP work as clients look to extract more value from existing enterprise technology investments and AI tools.

The appointments come as businesses reassess technology priorities in response to the growing use of artificial intelligence, data platforms and enterprise software. Organisations are paying closer attention to how technology teams deliver results and how operating models need to change as AI becomes more embedded in day-to-day business processes.

Willett brings more than 25 years of experience in information management, analytics and data-led transformation. He has worked on large data product transformations, focusing on helping organisations move from fragmented data environments to more structured ecosystems that support analytics and AI-based decision-making.

In his new role, he is expected to focus on how AI is reshaping core business priorities and how technology functions can modernise service delivery.

"AI is already changing how businesses are thinking about technology, and how technology teams deliver value back into the organisation. Our focus is on helping clients build the right foundations so they can use AI in a way that is practical, scalable and tied to real results. That means bringing together data, platforms, and operating models in a way that sets organisations up for long-term success," said Willett, Tech Consulting Lead, EY New Zealand.

As part of that work, EY will continue drawing on alliance relationships with SAP, Microsoft, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Databricks and NVIDIA.

SAP focus

Bremner also has more than 25 years of experience across large business transformation programmes, delivery and growth initiatives in international markets. His background includes SAP-led change, solution architecture, go-to-market leadership and the delivery of large innovation programmes.

At EY, he will focus on helping organisations get more from their SAP estates and make use of AI functions now being built into enterprise software stacks. The appointment reflects continued investment in SAP as a platform for companies pursuing business transformation and growth.

"Many organisations are looking at how to get greater value from the technology investments they have already made, while also preparing for what comes next," said Bremner, SAP Lead, EY New Zealand. "SAP is evolving quickly, including through embedded AI capabilities, and there is a real opportunity for clients to use that innovation to improve performance, modernise operations and create a stronger platform for growth."

The move reflects a broader trend in the professional services market, where advisers are putting more senior leadership behind AI, cloud software and data transformation work as customers shift spending from new systems to improving returns on established technology platforms.

For firms such as EY, that means balancing long-term technology strategy with more immediate client demand for measurable outcomes from software and data investments already on the balance sheet. It also reflects rising pressure on technology leaders to show how AI can be integrated into existing systems rather than treated as a separate experiment.

Local build-out

The two appointments also underline an effort to strengthen local delivery in New Zealand while drawing on global experience in artificial intelligence and established relationships with major technology vendors. The approach is intended to support clients navigating a changing technology landscape and shifting expectations around business performance.

EY's SAP work in the region has also received external recognition. The firm recently received the ANZ SAP Partner Award for Customer Transformation, Large Enterprise, with its work alongside Fonterra cited as important to delivery success.

Both appointments place experienced transformation advisers in leadership roles at a time when New Zealand organisations are under pressure to modernise systems, improve operations and make practical use of AI within existing technology environments.