About
John is much more than a skilled advisor and coach.

Business has been a cornerstone of John’s 35 year career which includes multiple family-owned businesses (McConnell Group) in the construction (Hawkins Group), infrastructure (Steelpipe) and property development (McConnell Property) sectors; investment banking in New Zealand (Jarden Group) and on Wall Street (Merrill Lynch) and engineering (NZ Synthetic Fuels, McConnell Dowell). He understands business.

In John’s experience business like life, rarely goes according to plan.
“It’s hard work and running them can be a lonely task. There are huge pressures to perform while making judgement calls without all the information. Seeing the ‘wood for the trees’ is an important skill, as is attracting and retaining the best people”.

John has also held independent governance and directorship roles (Cornwall Park, Unitec Institute of Technology, Wairaka Land Co).
“My governance experience has highlighted the importance of clear decision making and guidance while supporting the CEO and leadership team through challenge and debate.”

John particularly understands family businesses and the different drivers that influence them.
“They have characteristics over and above those of other enterprises. Difficult but necessary conversations include succession, the performance and integration of family members in the business while managing their aspirations and needs – all in the context of what is best for the business and family overall”.

John established Just Grow to create sustainable wealth, more freedom and improved wellbeing for New Zealand’s businesses and their people.
Just Grow builds professional, enduring relationships based on effective, open communication.
“Business is all about people, it’s all about relationships. It is a real privilege to work deeply with leadership teams, to transform their business.”

MBA (Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College, USA)
BE Chem (Melbourne)
Member of the Institute of Directors, New Zealand

Professional Highlights
I am deeply interested in business; providing lasting value and leadership to the businesses that I advise. With over 35 years of experience across a broad range of industries and countries, I bring a perspective and insights from being on the journey myself.

As a Scaling Up Certified Coach I work with founders, CEOs and their teams applying the learnings from Scaling Up and the Rockefeller Habits to achieve sustainable growth and transform their businesses.

I love working with people; it’s a privilege helping them to reach beyond themselves and achieve great goals. I work with teams that have a thirst to learn from the world’s best business leaders, applying the tools to create the vision and strategy, together with measurable plans for long term success.

It’s all about taking the stress out of running a business, enjoying the wins along the way and working with people that you deeply care about.

Personal Highlights
I am happily married to Karen with four sons, all born in different countries.

As a family we all enjoy snow skiing and spend great times together in the mountains of New Zealand. Sailing has long been a keen interest of mine; nothing quite beats the freedom of wind and sails on the water. I have taken up fly fishing in recent years, tying impossibly small knots on tiny hooks, but it gets you to some of the most breath-taking parts of the planet where its just you and nature.

And then there is Djing which I have been doing for over 20 years. I have a large record collection of house music and love playing it whenever I get the chance.

Contact John.

Coaching Regions
Australia
New Zealand

Industry of Expertise
Accounting/Finance
Administrative/Clerical
Automotive
Banking/Real Estate
Biotech/R&D/Science/Chem.
Building/Construction
Coaching/Business Consulting
Computer/IT/Software Development
Creative/Design
Customer Support
Editorial/Writing
Education/Training
Engineering
Food Services/Hospitality
Human Resources/Training/Dev.
Installation/Maintenance
Insurance
Legal Services
Logistics/Transportation
Mfg./Production/Ops.
Marketing
Medical/Health
Retail
Social Sector