KEY POINTS:
A Kiwi business coaching company has formed a joint venture with a like-minded Canadian firm and plans to expand across Canada.
The Results Group, with nine offices around New Zealand, will open its first Canadian practice in Calgary, Alberta in January. It aims to open a second in Vancouver later next year, and to establish up to 12 operations in Canada long term.
It has partnered with Calgary-based Alignlink, a business coaching practice which services several billion-dollar companies.
The Results Group says the deal lifts its revenues by an immediate 20 per cent.
Managing director Ben Ridler said The Results Group had met Alignlink several times at an annual business coaching conference.
After the Kiwi company presented at last year's event in Las Vegas it had numerous approaches from companies around the world, but decided the Canadian operation was the best fit.
Ridler said although The Results Group specialised in coaching medium-sized businesses, some of Alignlink's clients were much larger, reflecting the size of Canada's economy and Alberta's big oil industry.
The two companies had merged their business models: "They've brought to us a lot more strategic planning expertise, and working with bigger companies," Ridler said.
"Ours is a lot more execution expertise, making sure plans get implemented."
One of Alignlink's major clients is Gary Holden, a former managing director of Wellington electricity supplier TransAlta when it was owned by the Canadians in the late 1990s. Ridler said he presented to Holden, who gave the Canadian/New Zealand hybrid model his seal of approval.
The Results Group was still growing in New Zealand and had "taken our own medicine" with regard to the economic slowdown, retaining earnings and making sure its business was sustainable.
"At the same time we're experiencing record months, because there's a real need right now. People go to the specialist when things are serious."
Its work had shifted from focusing around rapid growth, towards restructuring and turnarounds.
