Source: NZHL
Advice Link is pleased to announce the appointment of a new General Manager, Sébastien Pierre, marking an exciting phase in the platform’s development aimed at expanding reach and impact within New Zealand’s adviser community.
After eight transformative years, co-founder and principal engineer Matt Gilbert will depart from Advice Link in January 2025 to embrace a new challenge as Lead Software Engineer at Top Rail, a leading farm management software provider.
During his tenure, Matt’s exceptional talent in handling complex technology projects has been crucial in establishing Advice Link as a leading adviser platform, positioning it for its next growth phase.
“We wish Matt all the very best and thank him for his dedication to building an amazing business,” said Kip Hanna, CEO of NZHL Group, the majority shareholder of Advice Link. “Matt has been instrumental in establishing innovation and ensuring Advice Link is ready to go to the next level with a robust strategy, exciting projects underway, and a strong, talented team.”
“This is an incredible opportunity for Matt to focus on his passion – engineering; particularly AI and machine learning.
We can’t wait to see what he achieves next; and Matt’s ongoing involvement as a shareholder and his support during this transition phase is invaluable.”
The arrival of Sébastien Pierre as General Manager signals a pivotal moment for Advice Link, its clients, team, and co-founder Josh Bronkhorst, who remains active in the business “Sébastien’s leadership is what we need to bolster our growth and provide even greater support to New Zealand advisers through our purpose-built platform. Josh and I are thrilled to have him join us and are excited for the future,” Hanna adds.
With an extensive background in the financial sector, including senior roles at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the New Zealand Stock Exchange, Sébastien brings over two decades of international experience at the intersection of data, technology, and people to the role.
French-born, his entrepreneurial journey began in Canada, where he established an award-winning data-visualisation consultancy working with global giants like The World Bank, UNESCO, Google, and Amazon.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the opportunity, Sébastien stated, “I am excited to contribute to Advice Link’s next growth chapter. The platform has already established itself as an essential tool for mortgage and insurance advisers, and I see vast potential for expansion.
NZHL Group is a Kiwi-owned organisation with a strong purpose, and its leadership is intent on helping Kiwis achieve financial freedom faster. I’m eager to leverage my background to further enhance a product that truly makes a difference in the industry.”
Looking forward, Advice Link is poised for significant advancement under Sébastien’s guidance, with ambitious plans to extend support to more advisers and, in turn, more New Zealanders. NZHL Group, committed to making a tangible impact in the advice industry, welcomes Sébastien’s wealth of experience and innovative approach to steering Advice Link into its next chapter.
About NZHL Group
NZHL Group is a Kiwi-owned, respected, and trusted brand – a purpose-driven (financial freedom, faster) home loan and insurance network that offers a solution to support advisers and help put Kiwi in a better financial position. Part of Kiwi Group Capital Ltd (KGC) which is 100% Government owned, NZHL Group operates with an Independent Board and local business owners nationwide.