Meet the team
Meet the team behind Castlerock’s long-term investment approach. These are hands-on professionals who work closely with the businesses they support, guiding owners through growth, change, and succession.
With experience spanning multiple sectors and decades of operational, strategic, and financial leadership, the team helps companies stay focused on their core strengths while unlocking new potential. Backed by Bancorp and guided by Castlerock’s Investment Committee, the team brings a calm, long-view mindset to every decision, just the proper support to build something enduring.
Matthew Willacy
Investment Director
Matt Willacy is an Investment Director at Castlerock, where he focuses on growth strategy, operational improvement, and succession planning across the portfolio. With experience spanning M&A advisory, commercial leadership, and governance, he works closely with business owners and executive teams to strengthen performance and build long-term resilience.
Matt has deep expertise supporting founder and ownership transitions, identifying and implementing improvements, and helping businesses scale without losing their identity. He takes a pragmatic, clear-headed approach — balancing commercial outcomes with a strong sense of continuity and care for what’s already been built.
Before joining Castlerock, Matt held senior roles in both corporate and advisory settings, including across the FMCG, media, transport, services and education sectors with experience across Australasian and European markets. His ability to navigate complexity and align stakeholders has made him a key contributor across multiple Castlerock investments.
Matt represents Castlerock on the boards of Majestic Horse Floats, HELL Pizza and HQ Travel Group.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), a Bachelor of Commerce.
Isaac Higgs
Investment Director
Isaac Higgs is an Investment Director at Castlerock with over 20 years of experience across private equity, corporate strategy, and operational leadership. He has held senior roles in FMCG, healthcare, and telecommunications, leading financial and commercial workstreams on the sale of Tamaki Health and supporting the integration of Bupa dental acquisition at Abano Healthcare.
As Asia Pacific Managing Director at Jack Link’s, Isaac led a cross-border acquisition, oversaw operational integration, and expanded the business into Japan. Earlier in his career, he held commercial and operational leadership roles at Walter & Wild, a portfolio company of the Rank Group, where he helped grow a portfolio of well-known New Zealand food brands.
At Castlerock, Isaac brings this breadth of experience to portfolio companies as they navigate growth, scale, and leadership transitions. He collaborates with boards and management teams to define strategic direction, drive commercial outcomes, and safeguard the long-term integrity of each business.
Isaac represents Castlerock on the boards of Brooklands Pet Products, HQ Travel Group, and Tile Depot.
Isaac holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing/IT) and a Graduate Diploma in Finance.
Ben MacDonald
Investment Director
Ben is an Investment Director at Castlerock with over 15 years of financial and commercial leadership experience. He has held senior leadership positions across private equity, aviation, utilities, and government sectors. Prior to joining Before joining Castlerock, he held senior roles at Salus Aviation, including CFO, where he led day-to-day operations, financing, capital structure and bolt on acquisition to support the company’s growth strategy. More recently Ben assisted in a large strategic acquisition for Salus Aviation, overseeing deal execution and integration to enhance operational and financial performance.
At Castlerock, Ben partners closely with management teams and boards to strengthen financial discipline, unlock growth opportunities, and guide businesses through key transitions.
Ben currently sits on the boards of Vivo Hair & Skin Clinics, Brooklands Pet Products and The Tile Depot.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Management Studies (Hons) Accounting and is a Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ).
All key investment decisions are made by Castlerock’s Investment Committee.
Craig Brownie
Chairman
Craig has been Managing Director of Bancorp since 2001, following an investment banking career with Macquarie Bank working in London, New York, Sydney and Toronto. Craig has led Bancorp’s private equity activity during this time and was Chairman of Premier Beehive Bacon Limited, Mana Coach Services Limited and Airbus Express Limited and a Director of Boston Marks Insurance Brokers. As well as being a Director of Castlerock’s general partner and manager, Craig is currently a Director of Salus Aviation (an aircraft owning, leasing and operating business owned by Bancorp), YouOwn Housing Limited (a co-ownership housing provider owned by Bancorp) and a Trustee on the Kelliher Charitable Trust and Kelliher Art Trust. Craig is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
Tim Zonneveld
Independent Director
Tim is a Partner at BDO Auckland and Independent Director of Castlerock’s manager. He has spent over 20 years advising businesses from small and medium enterprises to large multinational corporates. Tim has forged a strong professional relationship with many private equity firms and is their adviser of choice for venture capital, private equity and capital market transactions. He frequently advises on major transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, property acquisitions and divestments, corporate restructures, overseas expansions, and foreign investments into New Zealand. Tim joined BDO from Russell McVeagh, previously holding the position of Associate at ‘magic circle’ law firm Linklaters. Formerly Tim was a Senior Solicitor at Bell Gully and also worked at Ernst & Young. Currently a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, Tim is also a qualified Chartered Accountant. Tim is a member of the International Fiscal Association and Chartered Accountants Australian and New Zealand.
Nigel Spratt
Director
Nigel is an Executive Director of Bancorp and has over 20 years’ experience in international banking and financial markets, including time with UBS Warburg and on World Bank projects. He played a pivotal role with the New Zealand Housing Foundation for over 15 years. Nigel has invested in and sold private equity on his own behalf and was a Director of Auckland Airbus Express Limited and Boston Marks Insurance Brokers. Currently, Nigel is a Director of Castlerock’s general partner and manager as well as other Bancorp businesses YouOwn Housing, Salus Aviation and Bancorp Wealth Management New Zealand Limited and its subsidiaries.
Dr Derek Phillips
Executive Director, Bancorp Corporate Finance
With nearly 20 years’ merchant banking and corporate advisory experience, Derek is head of Bancorp’s Corporate Finance business, leading a team of experienced executives. He has a PhD in Engineering and Aerodynamics. Derek has led some of the major M&A transactions undertaken by a range of New Zealand corporates and private companies providing both buy-side and sell-side advice. Derek represents Castlerock on the board of Majestic Horse Floats and sits on Castlerock’s Investment Committee.