Senior Manager Changes

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BLACK PEARL GROUP | blackpearl.com
1 October 2024
Black Pearl Group Strengthens Leadership with Jean-
Francois Arlove as CFO, Karen Cargill as CGO

Hi all,
I am pleased to announce that Black Pearl Group Limited (NZX: BPG) is welcoming Jean-
Francois Arlove as our new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 15 October 2024. Our
current CFO, and company legend, Karen Cargill, will be transitioning into the role of Chief
Governance Officer (CGO).
As the Company experiences explosive growth, it’s critical we specialise and focus on key
roles to build a solid platform for continued expansion.
Jean-Francois, a CPA, Certified Practising Accountant, brings vast experience in both CFO
and COO roles, with specific expertise in the advertising and marketing industries. Having
thrived in the fast-paced world of international marketing for more than two decades and
overseen multiple successful acquisitions, Jean-Francois brings distinct expertise that will be
invaluable as we begin evaluating potential acquisition opportunities.
Jean-Francois’s operational experience was instrumental in the growth of TBWA New
Zealand, a global advertising powerhouse headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York.
As a key unit of Omnicom Group since 1993, TBWA is part of the world’s second-largest
advertising agency network. He is no stranger to the challenges of hypergrowth and
understands the operational structures needed to support it.
Karen’s move to Chief Governance Officer not only strengthens our depth and resilience in
this key area but also critically enhances the Company’s governance as the stakes grow
higher.
As a Fellow Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and
Wales, with significant global audit experience, Karen will work closely with Jean to deliver
our NZX financial reporting.
Karen is also a Chartered Governance Professional and Chartered Secretary with the
Chartered Governance Institute NZ. More importantly, Karen was a key figure in driving our

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BLACK PEARL GROUP | blackpearl.com
NZX listing and the Company’s success to date. In her new role, she will provide accountability
and risk mitigation, allowing the Company to scale with confidence and agility.
We all understand the importance of these key roles in a public company, and I’m sure, like
me, you’ll be delighted we’ve assembled such a top-tier team.

Kind regards,
Nick Lissette
CEO

Contact

Released for and on behalf of the Blackpearl Group Board.

For further information please contact:

Nick Lissette
CEO
hello@blackpearlgroup.com | +64 4 803 9390

About Blackpearl Group

Blackpearl Group (BPG) is a market-leading data technology company pioneering AI-driven
sales and marketing solutions for the US market. Specifically engineered for small-medium sized
businesses (SMEs), BPG consistently delivers exceptional value to its customers. Our mantra is
simple: ‘Better Growth Together’. When our customers win, we win.

Founded in 2012, BPG is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and Phoenix, Arizona.

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