InDebted acquires Debtworks, appoints first New Zealand-based MD to accelerate local growth
Global collections fintech InDebted has today announced its acquisition of Debtworks, one of New Zealand’s most established providers. This strategic move marks InDebted’s fifth acquisition globally following transactions across Australia, Europe, and the United States, and solidifies the company’s presence in New Zealand as a leading provider of ethical, modern debt resolution solutions.
With a client portfolio including all three major telecommunications providers in New Zealand, Debtworks bring deep market expertise across multiple sectors including government. As part of the acquisition, Leyden Tolhurst will continue on as Managing Director, InDebted New Zealand – the first locally based country lead.
“New Zealand is one of our most exciting growth markets,” said Josh Foreman, Founder and CEO of InDebted. “Debtworks brings proven sector leadership, and Leyden and the team have built an incredibly impressive business. Their strong financial performance, efficiency and AI advancements made them a perfect profile to further drive our New Zealand presence.”
A long-standing executive at Debtworks, Leyden has been instrumental in shaping the company’s trajectory over the past decade, establishing long-term partnerships with New Zealand’s most respected organisations. In his new role, he will drive expansion of InDebted’s flagship solutions Collect and Receeve, and ensure a strong local presence that reflects InDebted’s ongoing commitment to the region. Clients will now benefit from enhanced collections performance and consumer engagement powered by InDebted’s AI-driven global platform, while maintaining continuity with the Debtworks team they know and trust.
“We’re combining local knowledge with global innovation — and that’s what makes this partnership so powerful,” said Leyden Tolhurst, Managing Director, InDebted New Zealand. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved at Debtworks, and I’m excited to continue that journey as part of InDebted. Together, we’re delivering smarter collections and better outcomes for clients and consumers across the region.”
Driven by a mission to transform the global debt collection experience for good, InDebted views strategic acquisitions as a catalyst to accelerate its impact and reach. This transaction marks another step forward in expanding access to its AI-led, empowering approach to debt resolution. Since launching in Australia in 2016, InDebted has challenged legacy industry norms, and M&A remains central to scaling its model and delivering meaningful change to more consumers, faster.
This announcement follows a series of global expansion milestones for InDebted, including recent moves in the U.S., UAE and Europe, and the acquisition of enterprise software, Receeve. With Debtworks, InDebted becomes one of New Zealand’s largest and most advanced collections providers, uniquely positioned to serve enterprises with cutting edge digital infrastructure and a human-centered philosophy.
There are no immediate changes for existing Debtworks clients or consumers. A phased integration approach will ensure seamless service continuity while unlocking future enhancements in insights, flexibility and consumer support.
