Tony Pike, FLAT's Founding Director established the FLAT Group of Companies in 2004 to research and develop a simple hydraulic self-levelling and locking technology - initially to solve the problem of wobbly café tables.
FLAT's patented technology is unique, and has a distinct commercial advantage in that it can be incorporated into products at their design stage, so manufacturers aren't stuck with a bolt-on afterthought.
From a table to a helicopter, and applicable to industries as diverse as construction, furniture, appliances, medicine and film and television - including to set equipment at desired angles - all objects manufactured with FLAT® will find their level on any uneven surface.
THE FLAT BOARD
Michael Maxwell - Executive Chairman
Mike has over 25 years in the finance sector as a senior executive with global investment banks and has wide experience in the corporate, infrastructure, real estate and capital raising industries. Mike is driving the transition of the FLAT Group of Companies from research and engineering activities to the producer of FLAT technology across a broad range of applications and locations.
Tony Pike - Founding Director
Tony is the founder of the company and creator of FLAT® technology. With a background in plumbing and hydraulics, Tony was ideally placed both to identify the problems that needed solving and to develop to solutions to them. His passion for technology has seen him launch a further two companies involved in the commercialisation of innovative products and technology. Tony brings a blend of skill, practicality and energy to FLAT which has seen the company go from strength to strength since its establishment.
Damian Chown - Non-Executive Director
With degrees in Economics, Law and Business Administration, Damian has an enviable reputation for delivering straightforward and practical professional assistance in the form of a "partnership" with business owners and managers. A member of a number of associations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Australia), Institute of Management Consultants (Australia) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Damian thrives on the challenge of making a difference to organisations, and brings to FLAT his experience in guiding several similar organisations from concept to global success.
Barry Page - Non-Executive Director
A graduate of Harvard's Advanced Management Program, Barry is a Director of Prolink Financial Services, a firm that specialises in providing finance facilitation services for a variety of industries. Barry has been the director of a number of public and private companies, operating in the areas of Property Finance and Investment, and he brings a wealth of commercial and financial expertise to the business.
Mike Smith – Non-Executive Director
Mike has more than 40 years of business experience, and is one of New Zealand’s most prominent public company and private equity fund directors. He is currently the Deputy Chairman of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation, and the Chairman of ING (NZ) Holdings, ING Property Trust Management and The Lion Foundation. He is a past director of Fonterra Co-operative Group and Auckland International Airport. Mike previously spent most of his career at Lion Nathan where he was also a director for 16 years.
Peter Thomas - Non-Executive Director
Peter has been involved in the investment sector for many years, having spent most of his career working in the Asian markets. With his focus now on early stage investment, Peter works with some of the world¹s leading entrepreneurs. This brings a global network and level of sophistication to FLAT that any company would be delighted to achieve.