Zato did not optimise compliance. Zato rebuilt it.
Why Zato?
The name Zato is inspired by Zatoichi, the legendary blind swordsman from Japanese folklore, who moved with unmatched skill, intuition, and grace.
Like Zatoichi, our platform operates with unseen intelligence, cutting through complexity to deliver clean, accurate outcomes with remarkable efficiency.
Native Agentic Engine
Zato is not a bolt-on AI tool, it is AI from the ground up. Powered by Ziffy - our proprietary agent swarm intelligence - Zato coordinates highly specialised AI agents across every stage of your accounting firm's compliance job. One platform, built to think, not just process.
We mean business
Zato is founded by accounting experts who founded and run one of the world's largest accounting solutions group. Our team knows how compliance works in practice and takes our experience from 20 years of operating in the space and completing over 1 million ledgers to ensure Zato is everything you need, and more.
Expert founders
20
Years of compliance experience.
1M+
Ledgers of domain intelligence.
Precision
Engineered to perfection.
Velocity
Build faster.
Trust
Owning the outcome.
Elevation
The pursuit of better.
Unity
Humans and AI aligned.
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With a deep understanding of the accounting industry and a proven record in business leadership, Viv brings strategic focus and energy to Zato’s mission. As CEO, Viv is leading the rollout of Zato across New Zealand, spearheading revenue growth and shaping the platform’s evolution based on the real-world needs of modern accounting firms. Viv’s leadership is grounded in a passion for innovation and her vision is to position Zato as an essential partner to firms, helping them conquer compliance and reclaim capacity for higher-value client work.
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Dr. Kishan is a senior technology executive, mathematician, and AI leader with over 30 years of experience across enterprise IT, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. He oversees AI and innovation across Zato, driving the development of next-generation automation platforms for compliance and financial intelligence. He has held senior executive roles at Mahindra Satyam and Wipro, managing multi-million-dollar delivery portfolios and leading governance reform initiatives. Holding dual PhDs in Mathematics and Computer Science, and with published research in applied AI, Dr. Kishan brings a unique combination of scientific depth and strategic vision to Zato’s intelligence architecture.
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Srikanth is a technology leader with over a decade of experience across AI, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and enterprise software development. As CTO of Zato, he leads the design and engineering of the platform’s intelligent automation architecture for the accounting industry. A former cybersecurity consultant and digital forensics trainer for law enforcement, Srikanth has led high-profile investigations into cybercrime, fraud, and network breaches. He has developed advanced systems for metadata extraction, OSINT, and penetration testing, and has trained over 3,000 professionals. His work blends deep technical rigour with a passion for transforming complex digital ecosystems.
Mark is a senior technology executive and transformation leader with over 25 years of experience across AI, automation, and data analytics in the tax, legal, and accounting industry. Mark leads Zato’s Australian operations, driving market growth and the deployment of next-gen technology for accounting and compliance. Before joining Zato, Mark was a Senior Partner at EY for over two decades, where he pioneered the implementation of AI, automation, and analytics solutions for accounting and tax compliance reporting. Mark holds an LLB and BCom from the University of Otago and is a member of the NSW Law Society and the ANZ Institute of Accountants.
Vaibhav is a senior banking and strategy executive with over 18 years of experience across financial markets, corporate banking, and technology services. Vaibhav leads Zato’s Strategy & Operations function, driving commercial growth, operational scale, and institutional market expansion. Before joining Zato, Vaibhav served in multiple senior leadership roles at YES BANK, including Group Executive Vice President, where he managed large financial markets portfolios and advised corporates, MNCs, and public sector institutions on capital markets and risk strategy. Vaibhav holds an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur and a B.Tech from IIT Kanpur.
Mayank is a senior SaaS and technology leader with over a decade of experience across automation, ERP, and large-scale platform delivery. He leads Customer Success at Zato, overseeing customer strategy, implementation, and end-to-end delivery across the platform. Mayank works closely with accounting firms to drive successful adoption, optimise workflows, and ensure real-world value is achieved from the technology. He plays a key role in shaping the customer journey, translating feedback into product improvements, and scaling operational capability as Zato expands. Mayank brings a hands-on, execution-focused approach to building long-term and trusted client partnerships.
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Derek is a seasoned financial leader with 30 plus years in global banking, including nearly three decades driving institutional growth at Citibank. As CEO and Managing Director, he was instrumental in cementing Citibank’s role as a key international partner to the New Zealand Government. Now an angel investor and strategic advisor to early-stage ventures, Derek brings sharp insight into business strategy. Derek's other Director appointments include Aqua Stack Limited and American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Finance from Lincoln University and brings unparalleled financial expertise to Zato.
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Russell is a seasoned executive and board director with over 25 years’ leadership experience in the technology and telecommunications sectors across Australia and New Zealand. CEO of Vodafone New Zealand for 14 years, he transformed the company from a mobile operator into a digital services leader, expanding into broadband, TV, and converged offerings for over two million customers. Russell’s other Director appointments include Vocus Group Limited and 2 Degrees Mobile Limited. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland and brings extensive technology insight to the Zato board.
Viv is a household name to NZ accounting Firms. A Chartered Accountant with 25 years’ public practice experience, Viv was awarded a fellowship in 2011 by the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants for her contribution to the accounting industry. Founder of Business Fitness NZ Ltd, a content company specialising in compliance workpapers, Viv subsequently sold the business to CCH New Zealand Ltd, a subsidiary of software giant Wolters Kluwer. In 2014, Viv Co-founded The Gap, an end-to-end advisory platform for accountants, and was a Director and Head of Marketing and Partnerships for more than 10 years. Viv brings a unique blend of ‘in the seat’ accounting, product and marketing experience to Zato.
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Greg is a highly respected accounting industry leader with over 40 years of experience in public practice, technology enablement, and strategic outsourcing. He is a founding director of Connect Outsourcing, New Zealand’s largest provider of outsourced accounting services, where he has led innovation in operational delivery and offshore integration. Prior to that, he was a director and equity partner in a mid-sized Auckland firm for three decades, advising SMEs across a wide array of sectors. As an Executive Director of Zato Origin Ltd, Greg leads financial, product and business strategy, ensuring the platform’s growth is commercially sound and deeply aligned with the needs of the profession.
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Saurav is a global entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience across artificial intelligence, finance, and international business. As Executive Director of Zato, Saurav leads the company’s strategy, partnerships, and growth as Zato becomes the category-defining Agentic Engine for accounting firms. Saurav also serves as Executive Director of BansCap, a single-family office with investments across infrastructure, commodities, natural resources, and AI. A regular speaker at major investor forums and United Nations conferences, Saurav holds a Master’s degree and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and is an Associate of Trinity College London.
Rob is a senior growth and operations executive with over 20 years of experience across accounting, fintech, capital markets, and AI. As a Strategic Advisor to Zato, Rob supports market expansion, partner strategy, operational scale, and enterprise positioning. Rob began his career in insolvency at Ferrier Hodgson before moving into audit and tax at Ernst & Young, later serving as Associate Director at Ord Minnett Corporate Finance leading IPO and capital raising transactions. He then spent nine years at Xero, progressing to Regional COO, Asia & Australia, where he helped scale the partner ecosystem, and accelerate cloud adoption across the region.
Craig is a senior commercial and growth executive with over 20 years in technology, export, and enterprise organisations. Craig supports Zato’s strategic growth, bringing deep expertise in scaling partner ecosystems and driving high-performance cultures. Before joining Zato, Craig served as Managing Director for New Zealand at Xero, where he led national business performance and championed cloud adoption. He later served as General Manager at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, supporting the growth of New Zealand’s largest exporters. Craig began his career as a professional rugby player before transitioning into senior commercial leadership.
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