Auckland-based Wynand poised to reshape New Zealand's consulting landscape

Wynand enters New Zealand’s consulting market with ambitions to secure a leading position among the country’s independent firms. Based in Viaduct Harbour, Auckland, the firm works directly with business leadership on growth, competitive positioning and operational performance, combining strategic advice with responsibility for implementation.

Founded by Ari Johnson, the business concentrates on assignments with clear commercial significance: evaluating expansion opportunities, strengthening customer acquisition, developing technology and improving the operations that support revenue and profitability. Its remit extends from defining the strategy to delivering and managing the work.

Johnson brings an operator’s commercial judgement to the firm. As Chief Marketing Officer at Refr Sports, he has led positioning, acquisition and industry relationships through the software company’s early growth and seed funding. His experience encompasses the practical demands of establishing a market presence, converting demand into customers and building commercial relationships within a growing technology business.

That background informs the firm’s approach to consulting. Engagements begin with a close examination of the organisation’s objectives, constraints and commercial position. Wynand then works with leadership to establish priorities, commit resources and execute against an agreed scope, retaining involvement through delivery and performance evaluation.

The firm’s capabilities are organised across Strategic Advisory, Marketing & Acquisition, and Technology & Implementation. These encompass business and growth strategy, market positioning, acquisition programmes, digital products, automation and internal systems. Assignments range from discrete advisory engagements to programmes involving development, implementation and ongoing management.

The breadth of the practice allows Wynand to address commercial priorities across organisational functions. Market expansion, for example, requires alignment between positioning, acquisition expenditure and operational capacity. Technology investment demands a clear relationship between business requirements, development decisions and adoption. Wynand coordinates those elements within the engagement, keeping delivery tied to the underlying commercial case.

From its Viaduct Harbour base, the firm is targeting a national presence. Its growth agenda centres on winning significant mandates, delivering work of lasting commercial value and establishing a reputation that supports increasingly complex assignments.

Wynand launches with the intent to compete at the highest level of New Zealand’s consulting sector. Under its founder’s leadership, the firm will build its position through the quality of its judgement, the discipline of its execution and the confidence it earns from clients.

About Wynand

Wynand is an independent consulting firm established in 2026 by Ari Johnson and based in Viaduct Harbour, Auckland. The firm works directly with leadership across Strategic Advisory, Marketing & Acquisition, and Technology & Implementation, supporting business strategy, commercial growth and operational performance.