He was previously the firm’s people and capability manager
Saunders Robinson Brown (SRB) people and capability manager Celyn Fenwick is the firm’s first-ever COO.
Fenwick stepped into the new role on 1 June. He is responsible for overseeing the business services team that supports the firm functionally in the areas of finance, information and technology, strategic planning, people and culture, brand and marketing, knowledge management and administration.
“SRB is confident and excited about Celyn’s appointment as COO. His skillset and experience, particularly around organisational development, are well placed to lead the firm’s business services team and support the principals to take SRB into the future”, managing principal Jonathan Gillard said.
Fenwick commenced with the firm in July 2025 and brings 16 years of experience in the primary sector, government, insurance and legal roles. Prior to joining SRB, he was the people and capability manager at Antartica New Zealand, according to LinkedIn.
He logged a stint at Farmers Mutual Group as organisational development consultant. He was in a similar role at Landcorp Farming Limited, where he spent over five years. Moreover, he was a senior recruitment consultant at Sigmar.
Fenwick obtained his bachelor of education and graduate diploma of teaching and learning from the University of Canterbury. He also secured a post graduate diploma of human resource management from Massey University.
Fenwick’s appointment as COO comes as general manager Jenny Stirling prepares to leave the firm in August. Stirling has been a homegrown talent with the firm for over two decades, having started her tenure in 2003 as management accountant.
She was named general manager in 2021 and handles the business services team’s finance portfolio. She has a particular interest in agribusiness. She holds a bachelor of commerce obtained from the University of Otago.
Stirling has qualified as a chartered accountant with the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand. She has tackled matters involving chartered accountancy (business advisory/tax/audit) and management accounting (manufacturing, professional services and financial services).
Last year, SRB entered into a three-year partnership with Cancer Society Southern to provide legal services and financial assistance, as well to conduct volunteer work. The year before, the firm also inked a three-year sponsorship deal with the Hagley Oval Members Marquee in Christchurch.
SRB is also among the seven founding firms of Lawset, a legal association of medium-sized law firms in New Zealand. It was joined Tompkins Wake, Cooney Lees Morgan, Govett Quilliam, Carlile Dowling, Todd & Walker, and Gallaway Cook Allan.
