Adaptiv appoints Nikolai Blackie CTO to drive AI & growth
Adaptiv has appointed co-founder Nikolai Blackie as Chief Technology Officer to oversee the company's expansion and strategic direction.
As part of this leadership transition, Blackie will focus on Adaptiv's technology strategy and vision, supporting the firm's practice leads and placing strong emphasis on research and development, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence. Blackie will also work on developing the next generation of leaders and architects within the business and extending Adaptiv's graduate programme into its Australian operations.
Adaptiv was founded in 2010 and has since grown to become a full-scale integration partner providing data, AI, and integration solutions for some of the largest organisations in Australasia. Over the last four years, the company's workforce has more than doubled, from 29 employees in 2021 to 65 staff currently, made up of consultants, architects, and engineers. According to the company, there are plans to double the headcount again within the coming 18 to 24 months.
This expansion in personnel is mirrored by Adaptiv's growing geographical presence. In addition to its Auckland headquarters, the company now has offices in Christchurch, Brisbane, and Melbourne, operating throughout New Zealand and Australia. To assist in managing this expanded operation, Phil Cullen, formerly the company's General Manager, has transitioned into the role of Chief Operating Officer.
Regional delivery
The increased scale allows Adaptiv to deliver complex programmes using tools and platforms such as MuleSoft, Boomi, Solace Azure, Databricks, and Microsoft Fabric. These services are provided to enterprise clients in financial services, aged care, utilities, education, and government sectors, including a number of ASX- and NZX-listed companies. Notable customers include Bolton Clarke, St John, Fletcher Building, Toyota Financial Services, and Lotto.
Winning Boomi APJ Growth Partner of the Year in 2024 signalled we were punching well above boutique weight. With Nikolai now in the CTO role, we're poised to push even further, combining innovative technology and the same customer-first approach to scale," said Adaptiv COO Phil Cullen. "Today's numbers prove it: we're attracting larger trans-Tasman engagements and have the scale to deliver them end-to-end. To put that in perspective, the number of our active projects for 2025 is 87% higher than that of 2021.
The recognition as Boomi APJ Growth Partner of the Year reflects Adaptiv's increased presence and momentum across the region. The company is also developing various AI-enabled solutions, such as generative assistants that automatically build Boomi integrations and predictive AI systems designed to flag potential failures before they affect clients.
Technical direction
Our clients want modern integration delivered faster and more intelligently," said Blackie. "We're investing heavily in AI to make that happen - from generative assistants that auto-build Boomi solutions to Agentic AI solutions that can predict integration failures before they impact customers. My focus is turning those innovations into repeatable IP that lifts project speed and quality across the board.
In his role as Chief Technology Officer, Blackie will lead Adaptiv's technical direction in AI and integration technology, overseeing the transformation of these new tools into intellectual property that aims to streamline and improve project delivery.
Outlook
Going forward, Adaptiv plans to continue expanding its presence in Australia, enhance its data platform capabilities, and intensify its research in applied AI. The company's stated intention is to position itself as a partner for organisations seeking to modernise their data, AI, and integration infrastructure at scale.
