Managing Director & Owner
With over 30 years experience in the international acoustic ceilings industry our founder and Managing Director Neil Ridgway brings a wealth of experience and know how to the company. Neil is responsible for strategic planning, governance, business performance as well as new product initiatives and technical support.
Random factor about me...
I did the original AJ Hacket Queenstown bungy jump as a symbolic leap of faith in the future when I started Asona over 15 years ago. Its been a wild but rewarding ride.
Slogan for life...
A vision without a plan is just an hallucination
Finance Manager & Owner
Asona’s Financial Manager, Anne is the head of accounting, and oversees the preparation of financial reports, balance sheets and income statements -
What inspired me to do what I do…
I wanted to join Neil in building a successful and profitable company. The daily challenges offer many opportunities for personal growth.
Slogan for life…
There is always a solution to every problem, don't give up until you find it.
Random fact about me…
Back in the 80's, I used to own and run a market stall in Covent Garden, London
National Sales & Marketing Manager
With over twenty years' sales and marketing experience in the commercial design and manufacturing industry, Suzanne provides clients with assistance in technical specification and acoustic product advice for interior fit outs. She has a strong attention to detail and a passion for helping create exceptional spaces in both design and acoustics.
Random fact about me...
I have two belts in kick boxing.
Slogan for life...
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Guilty Pleasure...
70% dark chocolate.
Sales Support Co-ordinator
As part of the Sales Team, Sandy's role is to provide excellent sales support to the sales team and to customers. Alongside that, she assists with marketing.
Slogan for life…
There's a silver lining in every cloud.
Random fact about me…
I trained & worked as a Chef many moons ago.
Guilty Pleasure...
Chocolate and a good book.
Technical Sales Representative
Gina has many years' experience within the Commercial Interior Industry and a high level of respect for NZ manufacturing. She loves working with technically focused creative professionals who innovate and incorporate a holistic approach to space. Gina is passionate about Circular Economy principles + Biophilic Design.
Random fact about me...
The thought of ice block sticks hitting my teeth makes me shiver!
Slogan for life...
"... Poetry and hums aren't things which you get, they're things which get you. And all you can do is go to where they can find you."
What's inspires me...
Uncovering the subtleties of beauty wherever they may be found. Cherishing the unseen grace in the juxtaposition of things.
Account Manager | Upper North Island
Inspired by a family heavily involved in construction, Tony provides a wealth of product and installation knowledge to Asona clients. He is a qualified ceiling installer by trade and has many years’ experience in product sales. His account management role focuses on clients in the upper North Island.
Slogan for life…
Do it once. Do it right!
Favourite saying…
Life’s short, get amongst it!
Guilty Pleasure…
Fishing and Hunting.
Sales Operations & Projects Administration Manager
Claire is responsible for meeting company objectives through delivery of accurate on time estimation services, tender and bid management and project management of supply and installation. Claire keeps a strong focus on accurate detailing of projects and orders for production.
Slogan for life…
Success isn’t always about greatness, it’s about consistency. Consistent hard works achieves success and then greatness will come.
Favourite saying…
Positive thoughts bring positive outcomes.
What inspires me...
I love to be challenged and to continually develop in both my personal life and career. What inspires me the most are my family and positive people.
Technical Sales Representative | Lower North Island
Nathan is an experienced architectural and trade specification representative with a demonstrated history of working in the Construction Industry. Nathan's key responsibility is to work across Asona’s acoustic product suite to recommend the best product to architects, designers and contractors through one-to-one meetings, practice presentations and industry events.
Random Fact about me...
I taught myself to play guitar during lockdown.
Favourite saying...
You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it.
What inspires me...
Becoming the type of man that I want my girls to grow up and marry.
Technical Sales Representative
Svetlana joins the Asona team with 15 years’ experience in Sales and Business Development, working with individuals and in a B2B environment. She is experienced in Team Leadership and sales motivation alongside a background in facilitating team
meetings, workshops, and training sessions.
Slogan for life:
Just keep swimming. (Dory)
Favourite saying:
You don’t have to be great to start, but you need to start to be great.
Guilty Pleasure:
Too many… Whittaker’s Dark Chocolate with Caramel is a constant. A glass of Cognac is a current thing.
Production Planner & Supply Chain Coordinator
Alex is responsible for successfully planning production and purchasing and supply chain functions for Asona, along with maintaining the accuracy of our order and stock software systems. Alex has a strong focus on process improvement and continually strives to develop systems to exceed time/cost/quality targets.
Slogan for life...
99% of success is based on hard work.
Random fact about me...
I am interested in Chinese & European history.
Favourite saying...
It is what it is.
Warehouse Leader
Afa oversees the efficient receipt, storage, and dispatch of Asona goods. He is a vital part of the supply chain process ensuring goods are received and dispatched appropriately on time and complete.
Random fact...
I am a big N.R.L Manly supporter
Slogan for life...
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Favourite saying...
Are you serious?
South Island Sales & NZ Acoustic Manager
Andre rounds out our sales team. He is a qualified acoustician formerly employed by Marshall Day Acoustics. Andre collaborates with architects and acoustic consultants across the country advising them on acoustic and aesthetic design.
Random fact about me...
Unintentionally laughing louder than everyone else.
What inspires me to do what I do…
Working with great people on interesting ideas that solve problems.
Guilty pleasure…
I have won numerous motorsport championships.
Reception & Production Support
Jenny is our front-of-house and first point of contact for clients and suppliers either phoning in or visiting Asona. Jenny also supports production working with IT systems/applications which are currently being used by production to maintain the supply chain & dispatch process.
Random fact...
I am a neat freak
What inspires me...
To be part of a team and help others
Slogan for life...
Love your children, they are the most precious gift you will ever receive.
Sales Support & Project Management
As part of the Sales Team, Elize provides technical support to the sales team and to customers. She is a member of the Major Projects Team offering technical drawing and other in-depth product knowledge skills.
Slogan for life…
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Favourite saying…
Believe and you will receive
What inspires me...
The fact that the goals and purpose I strive for every day is achievable and that keeps me inspired.
Junior Product Design and Development Engineer
Nemanja’s role, in conjunction with Neil, is to design and develop new and improved products for sales and manufacturing in acoustic ceiling and wall finishes.
Slogan for life
You either choose a pain of discipline or a pain of regret.
Guilty Pleasure
Cold rainy night in the gym
What inspires me
Long walks and good talks
Production Operations Manager
Gary is our Production Operations Manager with the role of overseeing manufacturing production, installations, production scheduling, warehousing, and the production staff. No easy feat but one that Gary takes in his stride.
Slogan for life
You only get out what you’re prepared to put in.
Favourite saying
“There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.”
What inspires me
The challenge.
Accountant
Ling uses her exceptional accounting skills to ensure that Asona's financial information is accurate and current and implementing the company's accounting and financial reporting functions. Ling makes sure that all the t’s are crossed and all the i’s are dotted.
What inspires me to do what I do...
I like daily challenges
Slogan for Life...
Face life with a smile
Favourite saying...
Chance favours the prepared mind
Technical Specialist
John has been in several product manufacturing roles, with over 35 years in the building industry, most of which have been in the technical areas of interior ceilings and partition walls, often including seismic solutions for these products. John’s trying ease back but is finding too much fun to work and help grow Asona’s great products and support the sales team, architects, and contractor clients.
Slogan for life....
One of us is not as good as all of us.
Guilty pleasure...
My happy place – 4 x Bs and 2 x Cs (Bubble bath/beer/book, cheese, and chocolate) after a hard day's work during winter.
Technical Specialist
Geoff is a highly experienced Technical Manager with over 40 years in the commercial construction and manufacturing industries. With a can-do attitude Geoff provides practical technical support to Asona’s clients, sales team, architects and contractors.
Random fact about me...
I was named after Geoffrey Hurst the former English professional footballer, who remains the only man to have scores a hat-trick in a World Cup Final.
Favourite saying...
Live long and prosper
Guilty Pleasure...
A quiet Brandy
