A new chapter for Rationale
After almost 27 years at the helm of Rationale, Edward Guy has decided the time is right to hand over the reins, marking an exciting new chapter in Rationale’s story.
Following a carefully planned succession process, ownership of Rationale has transitioned to existing shareholders Tom Lucas, Chris Bowie and Jimmy Sygrove, who will now jointly own and manage the business.
It’s a significant milestone, and one that has been deliberately designed around continuity. Between them, Tom, Chris and Jimmy have more than 35 years’ experience with Rationale and longstanding relationships with our clients, partners and team.
For our clients, that means the Rationale you know isn’t changing. The same people, relationships, values and commitment to providing trusted, evidence-based advice remain firmly in place.
Thanks to Edward
The transition is an opportunity to recognise Edward’s huge contribution to Rationale.
Since establishing Rationale in Arrowtown in 1999, Ed has been instrumental in shaping the business and the way we work. Under his leadership as Managing Director, Rationale has grown from its Arrowtown roots into a nationally respected consultancy, working with local and central government organisations across the country.
Fortunately, handing over the reins doesn’t mean Ed is going anywhere in a hurry.
Ed will remain an important part of the Rationale team, with more of his time focused on working directly with clients and supporting strategic decision-making – alongside a little more time for his garlic crop, motorbike and other endeavours.
“After nearly 27 years, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at Rationale. This is obviously a big change for me personally and professionally, but it’s one I’m both very comfortable with and genuinely excited about. Tom, Chris and Jimmy know our business, our clients and our values inside out, and I’m proud to be handing Rationale over to them while still being part of the team.”
Same team, different roles
For Tom, the transition is the latest chapter in a particularly long association with Rationale. As Rationale’s first-ever employee, he has been part of the business for more than 20 years and has seen it evolve considerably during that time.
“It’s crazy thinking back to that first job interview with Ed and the early years of us working out of the old Oddfellows Lodge in Arrowtown. We’ve come a long way and its great to be able to continue what Ed started all those years ago. Chris, Jimmy and I work really well together and I’m looking forward to the next chapter. It’s also great knowing that Ed will still be on hand – 30 years of experience in the local government space is not something we wanted walking out the door on day one!”
For Jimmy, the success of rationale has always relied on the quality of the work we do, and the calibre of the wider Rationale team – which is something all three directors see as priority number one looking ahead.
“We’ve always said that our people are our most important asset, and we are really lucky to have an amazing team at Rationale. We’ve got a good mix of experience and newer team members and everyone is working together really well. It certainly takes a bit of pressure off knowing that our clients are in safe hands, and it makes the office a genuinely fun place to be – which is always a bonus.”
Chris sees this transition as a natural progression of something that has been happening almost organically for a number of years, and sees this as a real benefit of the way the process has been done.
“It’s a real privilege to take on ownership of a business with such a strong history and reputation. Our clients are at the heart of what we do, and many of those relationships go back a long way. Ed, Jimmy, Tom and I have worked together for a long time now, and the succession planning has been both collaborative and surprisingly enjoyable. We’re definitely not looking to reinvent Rationale. We want to build on what works, continue supporting our people and clients, and make sure Rationale remains a great business to work for and work with.”
Here's to the next 27 years!
While our ownership structure has changed, very little changes day-to-day, both for our clients and our team.
Rationale remains proudly independent and committed to the same purpose: helping our clients make great investment decisions and deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve.
At the same time, we’ve always had a pretty unique team culture with a focus on hard work, adventure and fun - and this certainly isn’t going anywhere.
It’s a significant moment in Rationale’s history, and one we’re excited to share with the clients, partners and friends who have been part of the journey.
And, as always, if it’s been a while since we’ve had a yarn, we’d love to hear from you.
BACK