Management Team
Jo Tarlton, General Manager
Jo joined Eco Maintenance in 1998, soon after the company started up. Since then, she has undertaken a variety of operational and management roles before being promoted to General Manager in 2005, and appointment to CEO in 2022. Jo has been integral in growing Eco Maintenance to the successful operation it is. She has ensured that we maintain our excellent contract track record and continue to be known as the company to rely on for responsiveness, commitment, and outstanding quality in open space amenity services.
Her core competencies lie in strategic leadership, change management, and fostering organisational growth aligned with sustainability goals. Jo delivers on a commitment to quality and responsiveness that resonates with Eco Maintenance's mission. Her goal is to infuse every facet of our operations with innovation and operational excellence, propelling us towards a greener future.
David Yandell, Chief Operating Officer
David has had a decade of experience in operations management across several industries, including transportation logistics and Council contracting. Since joining Eco Maintenance in 2014, he has undertaken both Operations Manager and Contract Manager roles, being appointed to COO in 2023. With his great interpersonal skills and willingness to get things right for the customer, he has proven himself to be adept at keeping clients satisfied and contracts running efficiently.
His successful approach to operations management stems from communicating clearly with employees and subcontractors, and making his expectations unmistakable. On the client-side, he makes the extra effort to find out what’s really wanted and valued, and then he makes sure it’s delivered.
Reg Walker, Contracts Manager
Reg has been part of the Eco team since its inception and as such has been a key contributor to the strategic growth of Eco Maintenance as a company. He has a wealth of experience in open space amenity service provision, after spending the last 20 years working with and for local government delivering large-scale maintenance and cleaning contracts.
Reg currently has responsibility for a range of contracts across Auckland, covering an array of our core services. He has been involved in direction-setting for the Streetscape Division, enabling increased capabilities, greater efficiencies for our clients and our own business, and continuously improving service provision for our growing number of open space amenity clients. He works closely with our client base, fostering cooperative partnering relationships.
Kelsey Illing, People and Culture Manager
Kelsey is an experienced People & Culture professional with over 10 years’ experience supporting operational and service-based businesses across New Zealand.
Since joining Eco Maintenance in 2025 as People & Culture Manager, Kelsey has led the company’s HR function, working closely with operational leaders to ensure teams are well resourced, engaged, and supported to deliver consistently.
Her background includes senior sole-charge HR, Health and Safety, and Compliance leadership within a multi-site manufacturing environment, where she managed workforce planning, recruitment, employee relations, policy development, investigations, training frameworks, and organisational improvement initiatives.
Kelsey brings a practical, structured, and solutions-focused approach, with a strong focus on leadership capability, consistent processes, accountability, and building high-performing teams.
Tony de Jongh, Contract Manager
Tony joined the Eco family in 2020 to head up our Wellington branch and has been managing the lower North Island region for Eco Maintenance since that time. He brings a wealth of experience from many years of managing contract delivery teams.
With strong skills in contract management, health and safety and providing client value, Tony is focused on supporting our teams to exceed customers' expectations, ensuring work is carried out safely and to a consistently high standard.
Tony has always focused on building highly skilled, multi-faceted teams to delivery high client satisfaction by being flexible and having the required depth to achieve performance targets.
Helen Prumm, Finance Manager
Helen joined Eco in 2003 as Financial Administrator and was appointed Business Services Manager in 2005. Her role encompasses overall management of our Financial and Customer Service business units. Helen has overall responsibility for financial reporting and works closely with the rest of our senior management team and clients to ensure the financial intricacies such as efficiencies and cost savings are well managed.