Sarah Blackie
Founder & CEO
Sarah Blackie is a strategist, change-maker, and recognised leader in procurement and business partnerships. As the founder and driving force behind Esby & Co, she helps organisations unlock commercial value through faster procurement and stronger partnerships.
Sarah brings deep expertise, honed over 20years leading commercial teams across New Zealand and global markets. She built Xero’s award-winning global procurement function, earned the company’s prestigious CEO Award for outstanding commercial results, and led her team to be named EY Procurement Team of the Year.
Through Esby & Co, Sarah partners with clients who need to move swiftly and deliver real outcomes. Her approach blends sharp strategic thinking with disarming honesty, agility, and heart—driving tangible results in even the most complex commercial environments.
Sarah founded Esby & Co in 2019 with a clear vision: to redefine how procurement and partnerships fuel success. Today, she is proud that Esby & Co is trusted by executive leaders who value not just expertise, but a bold, outcome-driven mindset.
Lisa Skinner
Senior Commercial & Procurement Advisor
Lisa Skinner is a highly respected procurement and commercial leader with over 20 years of experience across ICT, digital services, banking and insurance. She has held senior and leadership roles at leading New Zealand brands, including ASB Bank, Spark New Zealand, and Tower Insurance, where she delivered transformative procurement strategies, achieved large-scale cost savings, and fostered innovative supplier partnerships.
Renowned for her expertise in complex technology sourcing and negotiations, Lisa has led high-impact engagements with global partners such as AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Cisco, Infosys, IBM Spotify, Netflix and Live Nation. Her leadership has driven significant initiatives, including enterprise-wide procurement transformations, Supplier Relationship Management programs, and multi-country Procure-to-Pay rollouts.
Lisa’s approach is underpinned by commercial acumen, a deep commitment to culture and people, and a reputation as a trusted advisor across Australia and New Zealand. She has been instrumental in achieving over hundreds of millions in cost savings, improving procurement performance metrics, and unlocking new revenue streams through strategic partnerships.
Halle Evans
Operations & Projects Coordinator
Halle Evans brings broad commercial experience and operational capability to her role at Esby & Co, supporting the delivery of complex projects and keeping internal operations and client success running smoothly. With a background in brand marketing, project management, and business ownership, she’s known for her strong organisational skills, proactive mindset, and ability to calmly navigate fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
Before joining Esby & Co, Halle founded and ran her own hospitality business—overseeing everything from operations and finance to marketing and team leadership. She has also worked internationally in brand and commercial marketing roles, including at global e-commerce company The Hut Group, where she supported the US portfolio of skincare and beauty brands. These experiences have shaped her ability to build strong client relationships, and ensure Esby & Co delivery supports our client’s objectives.
