Our People

The diverse global team behind Oritain's award-winning services.

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Global Citizens

Here at Oritain, we are one team.

No one is more important than the team, nor the trust within it. While we are proud of our New Zealand roots, it is people that matter and we're a diverse, global team.

Two Men Exchanging A Handshake In A Field

Our values

Our purpose has always been centred around Tāngata - our people.

Oritain may now be a global company, but this universal truth still resonates throughout every land and every culture in which we work.

The Māori term 'tāngata' included all those to whom a person is connected - their tūpuna (ancestors), and their future descendants. Creating a better planet isn't just for the here and now, but out of respect for those before us and for those who will come after us.

Always, what determines whether we succeed or fail... it is people, it is people, it is people.

We acknowledge and respect our proud Kiwi heritage, while celebrating being a global business made up of a diverse, multi-cultural team.

OUR PEOPLE

Diverse clients, diverse industries, diverse people.

Today, with a broad client base and a range of product offerings, we recognise the need for a diverse workforce to help bring a different perspective to our relationships.

We believe in honesty, equality and collaboration and pursue an open, respectful and fully inclusive work environment to provide equal opportunities for everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability or race.

Māori proverb

He aha te mea nui o te ao

What is the most important thing in the world?

He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata...

It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.

Executive Leadership Team

Alyn Franklin

Chief Executive Officer

Alyn joined Oritain as Chief Executive Officer in 2024, based in London. He brings a wealth of experience in business leadership, most recently as CEO of Alcumus from 2017 to 2024, where he led the management team in defining the company’s strategy, with a strong focus on helping organisations create a safer, more sustainable world.

Alyn has extensive experience in the Risk Management and Professional Services sectors, including Chief Financial Officer at Santia and senior management roles at Connaught PLC, Wincanton, Coors Brewers, and Arthur Andersen. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Corporate Treasurer.

James Donaldson

Chief Financial Officer

James joined Oritain as Chief Financial Officer in 2024. Based in London, UK, James has led the financial teams at leading UK, European and Global organizations including lastminute.com, Travelocity, EMI, and award-winning AI software developer Ciklum.

During his 30-year career, he also led the exit of Calastone, a global leader in fund management infrastructure, to the Carlyle Group.

Heidi Cullen

Chief Operating Officer

Heidi joined Oritain in 2024, where she leads the company’s lab operations, service delivery, commercial operations, and strategic business intelligence. Based in Boston, MA, Heidi brings over 25 years’ experience leading global teams in operations and business transformation.

Heidi has held leadership positions at Wolters Kluwer, Lux Research, and Orion Global Solutions, and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University.

Prof. Russell Frew

Oritain Co-founder and Chief Scientist

Russell is an analytical chemist who started his career applying trace metal and stable isotope analyses to trace ocean processes. As a Professor at the University of Otago, Russell established the Forensic Analytical Science Major and provided forensic evidence to the courts.

Russell founded Isotrace in 2003 and then co-founded Oritain in 2008. From 2012 to 2016 he was seconded to the IAEA/ FAO to establish a food traceability programme. Russell retired from his academic position in 2021 and has since been full-time with Oritain as Chief Scientist.

Natalie Longhurst

Chief People & Culture Officer

Natalie has been with Oritain since 2022, where she leads the global People and Culture function. Based in London, Natalie is responsible for the design and delivery of the global people strategy, enabling Oritain to attract, develop, motivate and retain the best talent whilst cultivating an inclusive and engaging culture.

Natalie's extensive commercial experience includes Executive and Board-level roles in the financial services sector, most recently working in FTSE 250 roles at Lloyds Banking Group and Equiniti.

Rupert Hodges

Chief Commercial Officer

Rupert, Oritain’s Chief Commercial Officer, joined in 2016 and set up the first offshore office for the company in London, UK. Rupert is based in London and is responsible for developing and maintaining exceptional relationships with key customers, acting as a trusted advisor and strategic partner.

Rupert’s background includes a strong financial market understanding alongside developing and implementing of customer-centric initiatives.

Sarah Scott

Chief Marketing Officer

Sarah joined Oritain as Marketing Director in 2023, before becoming Chief Marketing Officer. Sarah is responsible for leading Oritain’s global marketing, brand and communications strategy. She brings over 15 years’ experience in marketing and communications, including senior roles at Xero and Westpac Australia.

Sarah holds an Executive MBA from AGSM plus a post graduate honours degree in Marketing and a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in International Business, Commercial Law and Marketing (BCA) from Victoria University in Wellington.

Stew Whitehead

Chief Transformation Officer

Stew joined Oritain in 2016, responsible for strategy and business development. As Chief of Staff, he was involved in scaling the company from 16 staff to over 200 globally. Now based in London, Stew is responsible for overarching company governance and business transformation.

Stew holds a Law and Commerce double degree from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, as well as executive qualifications from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and Harvard Business School.

Board of Directors

Rt Hon Sir John Key

Board Chairman and Shareholder Appointed Director

Rt Hon Sir John Key was New Zealand's 38th Prime Minister, guiding the country through the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, strengthening our economy and setting us up for success. A veteran of Merrill Lynch, he is known as a smart risk-taker and understands the fine balance between success and failure that growth-stage companies must strike. He only sits on three boards: Palo Alto, ANZ and Oritain.

Alberto de Benedictis

Independent Director

Alberto is the former leader of the UK’s second largest defence company, Finmeccanica, and brings over 25 years of board experience to the table. Having stood at the helm of an organisation generating billions in revenue annually, he carries a clear understanding of success and the behaviours, processes and people that will support us in achieving it.

Shanti Atkins

Independent Director

Shanti is the mastermind behind industry-leading compliance platform, Navex. Under her expert guidance, the organisation grew from USD$5 million to USD$200 million in revenue and a valuation of over $1 billion USD. She understands the challenges we face and, more importantly, understands how to guide us through them as she has lived them herself. Shanti is active on a number of boards, with a focus on software and data.

Jeff Levick

Independent Director

Jeff is a tech veteran, guiding Spotify as Chief Revenue Officer during its key growth phase in the early 2010s. He has held business critical roles in global powerhouses such as Google and AOL, more recently applying his extensive experience to supporting the accelerated growth of start-ups with a true ability to disrupt. This includes entities such as We Are Rosie, The Players Tribune and Oritain.

Angad Singh

Shareholder Appointed Director

Angad is a partner and investment committee member at Longridge, a long-term supporter of Oritain and, following the series B, a primary investor. Leading a number of deal teams across the organisation and managing a comprehensive portfolio, Angad is seasoned in growing promising companies from venture to IPO. He is a strong believer in us, our people and our solution, and supports us at every turn.

Jacob Bernstein

Shareholder Appointed Director

Jacob is a Principal at Highland Europe and the lead investor in Oritain’s Series C round. Highland are technology scale-up specialists who have backed numerous software businesses to over $200M in recurring revenues. Jacob joined Highland from L.E.K. Consulting in 2017. He lives in London with his wife and son, is passionate about nature conservation, and is an enormous believer in Oritain’s technology and potential.