Ian Hassell – CEO

"We live in exciting times - cloud technology and AI are reshaping the way we work, and I’m proud to be leading a company at the forefront of it."

Ian has spent over three decades in the technology industry, wearing many hats - from founder to executive to strategist. He’s built, run, and sold a software business, spent eight years at Microsoft NZ, and has now spent four years leading Umbrellar.

In March 2024, Ian led the management buyout of Umbrellar from Pax8, ensuring the company remained a key part of New Zealand’s tech landscape. With 25 years of history and a loyal community of staff and customers, Ian is proud to be reinvigorating the Umbrellar name and continuing the journey with the same dedication and vision.

The last five years have only deepened Ian’s passion for innovation. “The power of the cloud and managed environments truly came into their own during Covid. Combine that with today’s AI evolution, and we’re living in some of the most exciting times for technology.”

Ask him to explain his job to a 10-year-old, and he’ll keep it simple: “I look after the team and our customers, making sure everyone is happy.”

Biggest cloud misconception? He’s heard them all. But the one that still drives him crazy is when people think the cloud is just about storage.

With his kids now graduated and thriving in their own careers, he finds immense joy in watching them grow and succeed. Travel is his other great passion - especially the kind that takes him off the beaten track. “A couple of years ago, I went on safaris in Kenya and Tanzania. I love experiences that take me somewhere completely new.”

His favorite (and most hilariously wrong) piece of IT advice?
"The iPhone is a fad. It will never take off." (We all know how that turned out.)