Page 12 - HW June-July 2021

hard news
Movers & shakers
SUE DEE IS
Sika NZ’s new
Auckland-
based
Distribution
Rep. Having
been with
Sika for nearly
four years in
Customer
Services and in the hardware industry for 30, Sue will be looking after Auckland customers, as well as those in Coromandel and Northland. Sue says: “I am really excited to be starting my new role. It will be lovely to meet in person some of the people that I have been talking to over the phone in my Customer Services role.”
Ryan de Goede has joined Kärcher New Zealand in the new role of Key Account Manager Professional. Kärcher is
aiming to back up the investment in its product range with additional support for its strategic customers, over and above what it already offers through the four Kärcher service and sales centres, territory reps and service technicians. Ryan’s CV includes the last five years
as Territory Manager and BDM with cleaning and hygiene specialist Diversey in Auckland.
Grant
Morrison is
PlaceMakers’
new General
Manager Sales
& Customer.
Having been
with Lion
NZ for the
last 17 years,
Grant says of the move: “Now it’s the right time for a new challenge and I’m thrilled to have secured an opportunity within Fletcher Building, as the GM of Sales & Customer for PlaceMakers. I’m
enjoying the anticipation that comes with venturing into the unfamiliar! Thanks again to all the peers, teams, leaders and customers that have made the last 17 years so very special.”
Lower North Island Mitre 10 legend, Ashok Patel, sadly passed away suddenly in May. Ash joined Mitre 10 Home
& Trade in Lower Hutt back in 1995, having just
moved from Zambia. He started in the Inward Goods/Stock Procurement team before moving into sales at Mitre 10 MEGA Petone. Ash touched the lives
of suppliers, colleagues, and customers alike.
Gavin
Riddle is the
new Chief
Executive
Officer of
landscape
design-build-
care provider
Natural
Habitats.
Originally from South Africa, Gavin emigrated to New Zealand with his family in 2007. Armed with 30+
years’ experience in civil engineering contracting (including 13+ years
with Fulton Hogan) and business management, Gavin is also a voluntary Board Member of Mates in Construction New Zealand.
starting with Brian Hockly, Knk’s new Sales Representative for Christchurch. Prior to joining KnK, Brian worked
in sales and business development management, predominantly in the engineering, manufacturing, and the construction sector. Over the last
five years he has been involved in the residential and commercial space whilst immersing himself in the development of Canterbury. During his 17 years
of experience, he established his own business before immigrating from South Africa to New Zealand.
Also new
to KnK is
Waikato/Bay
of Plenty Sales
Rep, Steve
Pearson. Prior
to joining KnK,
Steve had
worked as an
airline pilot
for 20 years before Covid-19 devastated the aviation industry. He has now returned to his roots in the construction industry where he worked locally
and internationally in fields related to aluminium extrusions, exterior facades, and commercial doors.
Finally,
Kate Sharplin
is KnK’s new Auckland Commercial Sales Representative. Before joining KnK, Kate worked
predominantly in the construction industry in sales and marketing. At KnK she will be providing product advice, training, and technical support to customers, alongside developing and maintaining relationships with clients.
Bob Vereen, doyen of the US home improvement industry, passed last month aged 96. The well-known commentator, pioneer and former Hardware Retailing editor spent his professional life covering the home improvement channel, visiting countless home improvement stores, and sharing his insights worldwide.
10 NZHJ | JUNE/JULY 2021
MORE AT www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
KnK Architectural Hardware has a trio of movers & shakers to share this month