Top Consultancy Expands to Christchurch

Auckland-based Franchize Consultants is setting up shop in the South Island

Award-winning advisors Franchize Consultants (NZ) Ltd have increased their presence in the South Island with the appointment of a new consultant to be based in Christchurch. Mark Forward is already well-known to many in the franchise sector, having established ANZ Bank's franchising department in the mid 1990's. During that time he worked with many franchisors and service providers and also served on the board of the Franchise Association of New Zealand.

‘The appointment of Mark Forward will give prospective and existing franchisors throughout the South Island better access to much-needed expertise at each stage of their development,' says Dr Callum Floyd, a director of Franchize Consultants. ‘Companies considering franchising can access help with everything from strategic planning and feasibility assessment to the establishment of an infrastructure to support growth. Mature franchise companies can benefit from supporting services such as regular network health checks and reviews, franchise executive training programmes, international development assistance and specialist ongoing guidance and advice.'

Mark Forward has spent 20 years in the financial services sector where he held many senior roles in business banking, marketing, retail and corporate banking. During his time in franchising he analysed and assessed numerous franchise systems, then developed preferred arrangements with the better systems. In 2006 he left banking to study for an MBA at Canterbury University which he successfully completed in 15 months. Since that time, Mark has been involved in the establishment and operation of a number of companies. ‘Mark's skills assessing franchise systems provide a powerful background to his current strategic consulting role working with both prospective and large established franchise systems,' says Callum.

‘Mark's skills and background supplement a team at Franchize Consultants which blends extensive hands-on business and franchising growth experience and expertise with academic excellence and rigour.

Franchize Consultants was the winner of the 2006 Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards Service Provider of the Year title in 2006.