PH Digital co-directors Toss Grumley and Christine Kearney have acquired joint ownership of the business, buying out founder and co-director Murdoch Razmi.
The news comes a month after the Auckland-based digital marketing agency’s rebrand from Powerhouse to PH, citing a new ‘Digital Chemistry’ concept designed to make the technical world of performance marketing more accessible to clients in all industries and markets.
“To say I am extremely proud of everything we have achieved is an understatement,” says Razmi of his departure from the business he founded in 2017.
“They say the best time to leave is when things are going well, and in this case, with Christine and Toss at the helm and having assembled an amazing PH team, I am convinced that the organisation will thrive. I look forward to announcing my new projects in due course, and rejoining PH from the client side.”
Kearney, who led the rebranding initiative after her appointment to CEO in September 2023, says the change of ownership combined with the launch of PH “signifies a new chapter of growth and opportunity for our agency, our team, and the exceptional businesses we serve.”
“It’s the perfect note for Murdoch to sign off on,” adds Grumley. “PH is primed for success, thanks in large part to his leadership. Now, with all the momentum of the last couple of weeks, Christine and I are excited to really knuckle down and maximise that potential, onboarding more top-tier clients, and securing wins for everyone.”
A sought-after business advisor with 250 clients across NZ and Australia, and a director at various enterprises including industry disruptors across professional services, beauty, and the arts, Grumley joined PH as a co-director and minority shareholder in 2018, a year after it was founded by Razmi.
As he gradually increased his shareholding, Grumley’s strategic guidance and client-focused solutions helped propel PH from an ambitious start-up, to a leading operator in the Oceanic digital marketing space.
Kearney, an industry force who came to PH off the back of five influential years as GM and Marketing Director at NZ’s premiere auction house, Webb’s, acquired a minor stake in the business alongside Grumley and Razmi at the time of her appointment to CEO.
Bringing to the role a wealth of high-level marketing expertise with an emphasis on luxury brands, Kearney says it was an easy decision to invest in the business from the outset.
With Razmi’s departure to pursue new and exciting ventures, Grumley and Kearney have completed the buyout of his remaining shares, signaling a significant investment in the future of PH.
“While specific financial details remain undisclosed, this transaction underscores our unwavering dedication to PH and its continued success,” says Grumley.
“It is a significant undertaking for both Christine and I, and we believe it reaffirms our commitment to our team and clients alike.”
