Christie Kerner ‘will work to closely align the company’s US and NZ teams’.
Christie Kerner.
Black Pearl Group Ltd (NZX:BPG) has appointed Christie Kerner as its chief operating officer (COO) to support the company’s strategic go-to-market (GTM) strategy and drive its next phase of growth in the US market. With more than 30 years of experience scaling companies of all sizes, leading global teams, and driving operational excellence, Kerner will play a pivotal role in strengthening Blackpearl Group’s leadership team as it accelerates expansion.
“The US is our primary market and local expertise is key to our success. To do this, we need to secure world-class talent with the chops, experience, and proven ability to align company operations with trajectory,” commented Blackpearl Group founder and chief executive Nick Lissette.
With extensive experience in both high-growth startups and profitable long-term businesses, Kerner brings a rare ability to balance ambition with structure. “Her leadership will be instrumental in ensuring Blackpearl Group scales effectively while preserving the ingenuity and agility that set us apart,” added Lissette.
Kerner will be based in the US and will work to closely align the company’s US and NZ teams. Her focus will be on building the infrastructure needed to support long-term success. “We’re sitting on a launchpad right now – our trajectory is set and my role is to refine our strategies, remove barriers, and shape the rocketship for sustainable growth,” she said.
“Scaling isn’t just about growth though – it’s about ensuring the right people are in the right seats, that priorities are aligned, and that we’re disciplined in execution,” explained Kerner. “I focus on creating an environment where people thrive – because when they do, the businesses will thrive.”
With a master’s degree in management and leadership, Kerner’s career spans senior leadership roles across startups, corporates, and academia where she is renowned for her ability to balance aggressive growth with sound fiscal strategy, ensuring businesses scale effectively while maintaining strong foundations.
Kerner has been instrumental in shaping the growth-stage startup ecosystem in the US, helping companies as they scale toward $200 million-plus in revenue. As a board member of StartupAZ, she has championed high-growth founders navigating this critical phase and has scaled international programs with Startup Grind.
“AI and emerging technologies can disrupt markets overnight,” noted Kerner, adding that: “Success lies in building resilience and that’s rooted in an ability to innovate on an ongoing basis.”
Blackpearl Group leverages a portfolio approach to product development within a rapidly evolving tech landscape, reflected in the development of Bebop, the company’s AI-powered sales intelligence tool, in a single quarter. The beta launch of Bebop followed the success of Pearl Diver, Blackpearl Group’s flagship prospect identification platform, a marketing intelligence platform that offers businesses a way of off-setting their reliance on traditional pay-to-play ad platforms.
This is supplied content and not commissioned or paid for by NBR.
