After obtaining a B.Com (Hons) and LL.B from Otago University, Kimball spent two years with the Investment Banking team at Bank of New Zealand and then joined Southpac in the merchant banking division. In 1993 he joined Fletcher Building and worked on strategic development projects in New Zealand and in respect of various Asian markets. In 1996 he became plant manager for the company’s particleboard operations in Taupo, then site leader for the particleboard plant in Kumeu.

Kimball left Fletcher Building in late 1999 and for the next 2.5 years was the project manager and then lead negotiator on behalf of the eight regional and city councils of Auckland in the three-way negotiation with Tranz Rail and Treasury to procure greater access to the rail corridors to enable the expansion of public transport in Auckland.

In 2002 Kimball moved into consulting with the intention of bringing the skills he had gained in analytical decision-making to clients. Since then, he has been engaged by a number of large New Zealand businesses to create financial models to support all manner of decision making, including investment analysis and strategic planning for significant growth projects. He also worked on many operational improvement projects for companies, ranging from staff levelling in a retail store chain across New Zealand to sales and operations planning for a lumber manufacturing company.

Having worked with KAIZEN Institute on a variety of projects during this time, Kimball formally joined the KAIZEN Institute New Zealand in 2008. He specialises in bringing process measurement, ROI assessment and lean accounting techniques (collectively termed lean measurement) to KAIZEN Institute’s lean transformation projects.

Kimball has undertaken work for the following companies: