Hires Tony Wightman to be operations manager
Wrays, one of Australia’s largest independent intellectual property firms, today announced that it has appointed current chief financial officer Robert Pierce to be the firm’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July. Mr Pierce will continue to be based in Wrays’ Perth office.
Mr Pierce will work with current CEO Frank Hurley, who plans to focus on other external commitments, on a transition over the next 3 months to ensure a smooth and effective handover.
Wrays’ chairman Gary Cox wished Mr Hurley well and noted that Mr Pierce was well positioned to take over as CEO.
“Frank and I have worked very closely together for the last 7 years and I’m grateful to him for the intelligence, rigor and commitment he demonstrated as CEO, which has helped put the firm in a strong position for future growth. I wish my colleague and friend all the best as he moves onto his next challenge,” says Mr Cox.
“Rob is the clear choice to succeed Frank, given his deep knowledge of the business, close involvement in day-to-day operations, and the valuable contributions he has already made in helping drive our long-term growth strategy,” he added.
Mr Pierce has been Wrays’ chief financial officer for four and a half years. He has been a member of the management team and closely involved in strategic planning, as well as holding day-to-day responsibility for the firm’s financial reporting, operations, and information technology.
Prior to joining Wrays in September 2012, Mr Pierce held senior financial management positions in the United Kingdom across various sectors at both listed and private entities.
Mr Pierce is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a member of the Certified Practising Accountants of Australia. He is a Business and Finance graduate of the University of Derby. He is currently studying an MBA at the Australian Institute of Business in Adelaide.
“I’m looking forward to taking over the reins on a day-to-day basis to ensure the firm’s continued growth and success,” says Mr Pierce. “This is an exciting time for the firm. We’ve got a strong and talented team in place, the market dynamics are changing and there’s more innovation coming out of Australia. As a result, we see excellent opportunities for Wrays to further expand.
“Looking ahead, we will maintain our commitment to being independent, continue to grow a stronger presence across Australia, and build an even stronger client-centric culture,” he added.
Wrays appoints Tony Wightman operations manager
Additionally, Wrays has hired Tony Wightman in the newly created position of operations manager. He will be based in Sydney, signifying Wrays’ commitment to further expanding its presence on Australia’s east coast. Mr Wightman will become part of Wrays’ management team and will be responsible for operations, finance, IT, and practice management nationwide. His appointment is effective immediately and he will report to incoming chief executive officer Robert Pierce.
Throughout his 22-year career Mr Wightman has gained extensive experience in operations, finance, systems transformation, and managing complex change in both Australia and Europe.
Most recently, he worked for RAMS Financial Group in Sydney focusing on business and systems transformation. Prior to that, Mr Wightman held senior finance and operations positions with several law firms including Minter Ellison and Norton Rose Fulbright in Sydney; Ogier, an offshore legal and fiduciary services firm in the Channel Islands; Simmons & Simmons in its London and Milan offices; and CMS Cameron McKenna in London.
Mr Wightman holds a Bachelor of Business from Edith Cowan University, Perth and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand.
“Wrays is a dynamic organisation with a unique position and opportunity in the Australian legal marketplace,” says Mr Wightman. “I’m looking forward to bringing my breadth of experience in legal professional services to help deliver superior client service and to help drive Wrays’ next phase of growth.”
Chairman Gary Cox says, “Tony’s experience in financial management, systems deployment, business partnering and stakeholder management is going to be invaluable as Wrays embarks on its next phase of growth. We’re particularly enthused to have someone with Tony’s experience based in Sydney to help support our expansion on the east coast.”