Eric Watson: Founder and Executive Chairman
Mark Flay: Chief Financial Officer
Don Stanway: General Counsel
William Gibson: Special Projects Manager
Eric Watson is the founder and executive chairman of international private investment company Cullen Investments. Resident in the UK, Mr Watson is a successful entrepreneurial investor.
Cullen Investments has its origins in a start-up founded by Mr Watson in 1988, through which he has actively invested his own capital in a range of mergers and acquisitions.
Cullen Investments is focused primarily on development of its international portfolio, which includes interests in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Market sectors cover fashion retail, financial services, agriculture, real estate, and sports and entertainment.
Prior to forming Cullen Investments, Mr Watson was the founding chairman and largest shareholder of Blue Star Group, a retail and distribution business he established in January 1992. Mr Watson guided the successful growth of Blue Star Group through the acquisition and consolidation of numerous Australasian companies in this sector, including U-Bix office equipment, Wang New Zealand IT services, Whitcoulls book retailer, PC Direct, and Link Printing.
In 1996, Blue Star Group was sold to Nasdaq-listed US Office Products, a diversified supplier of a broad range of office products and business services to corporate customers. Prior to establishing Blue Star Group and subsequently serving with US Office Products, Mr Watson held several positions with office products company Xerox Corporation, including president of operations for Australasia.
Mark Flay is the chief financial officer of Cullen Investments. Mr Flay has been with Cullen Investments for more than eight years. Mr Flay sits on the Cullen board and the boards of a number of its investments, including Bendon and the Warriors.
Prior to joining Cullen Investments, Mr Flay spent five years with KPMG in the assurance division. He has a BMS (hons) from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Don Stanway is Cullen Investments' General Counsel and is responsible for managing the Group's legal affairs as well as being a representative on a number of boards, including Cullen Investments. Prior to joining Cullen Investments in 2008, Don worked for a leading accounting firm and practised in commercial law at major law firms in both New Zealand and London. He has also held positions as legal counsel in the corporate arena. Don's career includes significant experience in professional services, funds management, financial services, and corporate and commercial law. Don has a BCom and LLB from Otago University and has been admitted as a Solicitor in New Zealand and England and Wales.
William Gibson is a senior finance executive of Cullen Investments, and manages Cullen's special projects. He is primarily responsible for Cullen's UK and European interests. Mr Gibson is a qualified Chartered Accountant, with more than six years experience in chartered accountancy firms. He has been with Cullen Investments since 1997, after working with Eric Watson since 1993 during the creation and on-sale of Blue Star Group.
Mr Gibson has an extensive background in property development, and manages numerous projects and company start ups in his role. He is currently based in London.
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