PERSONAL STATEMENT

Seed financing, starting, operating and disposing of businesses, has put me in good stead as a General Manager and a Management Contractor.

I have had an exciting and varied career in a number of industries which I have enjoyed immensely and has helped to form the set skills that I am able to offer.

Amongst my greatest hits

  • Seeded, started and sold a natural gas retailer e-Gas 2000 Limited, which was eventually sold to Contact Energy.
  • Headed up sales and marketing of startup Empower Limited, NZ's first independent electricity retailer prior to its sale Contact Energy
  • Imported water coolers from China and sold retail finance agreements to Auckland businesses eventually selling the database to a competitor.
  • Built the Australasian distribution network for Italian concrete formwork technology company Pontarolo Engineering and Cupolex Australasia Limited.
  • Extensive experience marketing FMCG throughout the Pacific Islands through Crosby Exports.
  • Negotiated the sale of Hamelex Trailer Manufacturing facility whilst in receivership as a receivers man.
  • International tender to market the aviation assets of Cityjet Limited in receivership.
  • International tender to market the crane assets of Baldwins PLC in Liquidation.
  • Ran NZ's largest nursery supplying seedlings north island wide to the Warehouse, Kings plant barn, Mitre 10, Palmers etc.
  • Contracted to assist three allied business in the agri sector. A dairy feed manufacturer, a grain storage facility and a food grade maize processing facility.  
  • Contracted to business rescue an Aluminium Window company that had been incapacitated by dishonest management.
  • Asked to assist a property development company to systemise their budgeting procurement and scheduling.

Operationally I have run the £49M end of contracts department for the leasing arm of one of the largest banks in the world.  I have also run NZ’s largest plant nursery, the transport logistics of which were very challenging.  

IT savvy, I have run technology implementations, designed the architecture for web sites and translated the operational requirements of a business to a programmer to create a SQL server based software solutions. E-gas billing system.  Zealandia scheduling system.

I am equally comfortable in the board room or the smoko room and relate well to all.  Listening to, mentoring and empowering others has been and will continue to be a key to my success. Thinking outside the square and making things happen where the rubber meets the road is my specialty.  Many people are strategic and know what to do in theory.  I am both strategic and practical.  Often it takes less time to do, than to delegate and yet “teaching a man to fish” and empowering people is the ultimate goal.

Hiring a GM or a consultant to guide and grow your business is a daunting prospect.  In my experience hiring on contract is the best way to go.  Not preferred by an employee type but I am not one of those, so that point is moot. Contracting is clean and by far the safest way to try before you buy.

I can help either on contract or full time if

  • Your business is in the start-up phase and you need help with due diligence, viability, business and marketing plans, distribution network creation.
  • Your business is already established but needs someone to take ownership and assist your company through a change process be it revenue growth, restructure or re-energising.
  • Your business is in difficulty and in need of assistance to turn it around.
  • Your business doesn’t have a succession plan or needs someone to help shoulder the load during times of need.  Locum GM due to medical reasons or personal circumstances perhaps.
  • Your business needs modernising and financial literacy and someone to create a culture of monthly P&L’s.
  • Your business has promise but needs help to get to the next level.
  • Your business needs someone to make things happen or you need an equity partner.