I met Hayden at a manic time in my life where I could only describe myself being "off the rails". As others judged, he supported me unconditionally. He was a true friend to me when I really needed one, and he encouraged me to be a better version of myself. For someone to see the "real you" so quickly, was a real gift. We had some HUGE nights, always so much fun and laughter. God he was funny. And SMART. I know Cath was his everything, and while it's been so long since we caught up, I will always remember you with a smile. RIP you crazy, beautiful man. My thoughts are with your wife and children.

Finding out the news you are no longer with us has really hit me like a ton of bricks and its hard to know what to say to sum up the amazing man that you were.  When we met 22 years ago, we had an instant connection.  Your cheeky laugh, ability to be a great educator but also infuse every meeting we had with fun, and on occasion a stupid face or silly costume (if it wasn't the usual black tee of course) was so refreshing.  From the nights where we bumped into each other at Gardies or The Cook, or sought each other out at The Bowler, we always seemed to have a right laugh.  When you left Dunedin and I still had a few years left to go, I was sad that we might never see each other again - another university connection that I might lose touch with. 

But over the years, of all those university connections, something about you meant I kept an eye on your career.   You had such good energy I really hoped our paths might cross again.  When you reached out to me and said exactly the same thing, I was so happy to reconnect, despite living the other side of the world.  We launched straight into "marketing geekery" as you liked to call it, you challenging me with a "brief" to parry new product ideas at each other (I'm still waiting on the royalties you promised...)  This quickly morphed into asking each others advice on various work challenges (I think I definitely got the better end of that bargain as your assessments were always the most insightful).  You always cared about me and what I was doing and we both looked forward to meeting up in person again when we would next be in the same country.  Since then, I've only been able to return to NZ a few times given recent restrictions, but whenever we met, we could simply talk for hours - before we knew it the night would have gone we'd have been talking so much.  You often talked about Cath, your times in London and travelling together, and the beautiful kids you had.  I had hoped that one day we might all meet and I am so sad to think that day will now, never come.

Hayds, despite not seeing each other nearly enough, you have left a proper hole in many peoples lives - mine included - as is evidenced by the amazing tributes and stories from almost everyone you seem to have met and made an impact on.  The world is a little darker without you in it and I will miss you and your wit immensely.  I will never be able to listen to K&D without thinking of you, nor sit at a set of drums without a tear in my eye.  We had so many more conversations still to have and I was looking forward to the day when we might actually work together officially - debates and all - it pains me to be wrong on this front.  You were always there to give me words of encouragement or advice whenever I needed it.  I can't thank you enough for every single word you said to me- it has helped shape me into the marketer, and the person, I am today. 

Rest easy my friend, your little "genius", Jo xxx

I had the pleasure of working with Hayden back in the mid naughties at Britvic in the UK. Actually the first time i met Hayden was at Stansted airport when we were travelling to Rome for a team meeting and he had decided in advance of starting a new job to grow a Merv Hughes style moustache.

While it is a long time ago now my abiding memory of Hayden professionally was his creative energeticapproach to nearly any task - i remember him leading one of the most inspirational innovation session with various different exercise to keep us energised and in the zone.

But  Hayden was a fun person to work (and enjoy après-work drinks) with. Always smiling and bringing his sense of infectious humour to any situation. The office was always a fun place to be when he was around. I even got to experience his legendary pie-making skills (how many ingredients did a pie need!!) at our team away day.

This was all a long time ago but i still vividly remember Hayden making me smile a lot at work and in the various pubs (especially the one close to the office) that i was fortunate to frequent with him. 

Thinking of his family at this difficult time but hoping the positive memories he spread live on.