Zato
85+ people
AI, product, engineering, implementation, commercial and support.
Leadership
The people behind Zato.
Saurav J Bansal
Group CEO
Leads the Zato Group across AI software and accounting production in Australia and New Zealand. Has helped transform more than 20 years of accounting production expertise through Connect into Zato’s AI-native platform. Also Executive Director of BansCap, a private investment office.
Dr Srinivas Kishan Anapu
Executive Director, Zato Labs
AI and enterprise technology executive with over 30 years of experience, including leadership roles at Tech Mahindra, Wipro and Dell. Holds doctorates in Computer Science and Mathematics and leads AI innovation, product development and engineering through Zato Labs.
Viv Brownrigg FCA
Executive Director, Sales & Marketing
Fellow Chartered Accountant and accounting technology entrepreneur with 40+ years in the profession. Founded Business Fitness New Zealand, which she sold to CCH, and later co-founded The Gap, an advisory platform for accounting firms.
Greg Rathbun
Executive Director, Commercial
Former Chartered Accountant with 40+ years across public practice, outsourcing and accounting operations. Previously a director of an Auckland accounting firm, he became a founding director of Connect, helping build one of ANZ’s most established accounting outsourcing businesses.
Paul Churchman CA
Head of Sales
Chartered Accountant and former Sales Director of Xero New Zealand. Spent a decade at Xero in senior partner, enterprise and international sales roles, including leading sales in Canada, after beginning his career in public practice at Deloitte Private.
Phil Allen
Head of Implementation
Accounting technology leader with 15+ years helping firms adopt and scale new systems. His career spans Xero, BankLink, Figured and TMNZ, with extensive experience across implementation, customer operations and product adoption.
Alan Yu
Head of Strategy
Finance and investment professional with experience at BlackRock, where he served as Chief of Staff to the Asia-Pacific CEO, and Ping An Voyager Partners. Brings expertise across institutional asset management, venture investment and strategic finance.
Kate Freeman
Chief of Staff
Growth and transformation executive with 25+ years across technology and financial services. Former Global Chief Marketing Officer at Futrli, where she helped scale the business, with earlier experience at NAB, Nike and other major brands.
Non-Executive Directors
Russell Stanners
Non-Executive Director
Former CEO of Vodafone New Zealand, which he led from 2005 to 2018. Previously CEO of Unisys New Zealand and an IBM executive, he also serves on the boards of 2degrees and Vocus, bringing extensive experience in scaling major technology and telecommunications businesses.
Derek Syme
Non-Executive Director
Former CEO and Country Officer of Citi New Zealand, serving from 2011 to 2023. His nearly 30-year career at Citi included senior corporate and institutional banking leadership roles across Australia and New Zealand.
Saurav J Bansal, Viv Brownrigg and Greg Rathbun also serve on the board.
Senior Advisors
Rob Stone
Senior Advisor
Former Xero executive with senior leadership roles across sales, partnerships and regional operations in Asia and Australia. Earlier worked in accounting at EY and corporate finance at Ord Minnett. Now Senior Director at Lightspeed, advising Zato on technology adoption and ANZ growth.
Craig Hudson
Senior Advisor
Former Managing Director of Xero New Zealand and General Manager of Export Customers at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. A former professional rugby player, he brings extensive experience in technology growth, commercial leadership and the New Zealand business community.