Page 6 - HW December 2019

hard news
New owners for iconic Coromandel business
After 30 successful years of trading, Coromandel Timber ITM is now under new ownership, with Larry and Joan Knudsen, who have owned the business since 1966, passing the baton on to Rowan and Sharon Toms from East Auckland.
Rowan was Branch Operator at PlaceMakers Pakuranga where he was for some 14 years in a variety of roles prior to taking over the Coromandel business.
He says: “We’re excited about the challenges of owning our own business and further developing the strong
local relationships Larry and Joan have created in the Coromandel region.
“What appeals to Sharon and me about ITM is the owner-operator model. It means we can really immerse ourselves in the local community and most importantly, build relationships with our new customer base.”
Rowan says he has no immediate plans to make any significant changes.
“The business has been very successful and all the staff have great relationships with the community. It’s about continuing what Larry started all those years ago.
“David Bromley, the General Manager, does an excellent job and I see my role as supporting him and his team.
“So many times, someone new comes into a business and sets about changing everything. That’s not our way.
“We are going to look at what we can do to best improve what they already have and just listen to what our customers want.”
www.itm.co.nz
Movers & shakers
BEN ADAMS IS new to Yates as Territory Manager but comes with a strong background in horticulture, having worked for Kiwicare Corporation and Palmers Garden Centres in various roles. More recently he worked for Ox Tools NZ as National Business Development Manager and says he’s “looking forward to getting out in the field seeing new and old faces, promoting the Yates brand and growing our strong share of the market”.
Fergus Brown, CEO
of Holiday Parks
New Zealand, is a
new ServiceIQ Board
member representing
the hospitality sector.
Prior to his current
role, and running his
own accommodation business, Fergus worked for Tourism New Zealand. He is also on the Tourism Industry Aotearoa Board and has experience working with Government.
Clifford Buchler,
CEO at Mitre 10
MEGA Hamilton,
was recently named
CEO of the Year at
this year’s Westpac
Waikato Business
Awards. At the
same Awards, Jessica Fearnley, Mitre
10 MEGA Hamilton’s People, Culture & Business Improvement Manager (below), was Highly Commended in the Emerging Leader of the Year category. Mitre 10 MEGA Hamilton owner, Terry Wilson, says he and wife Lynne weren’t surprised
by either award: “We are absolutely over the moon to see them both recognised in such a way.”
Neil Cowie, former Mitre 10 NZ CEO, has joined solar outfit Solarcity as CEO. Neil takes
the role over from
Solarcity founder,
Andrew Booth,
who becomes Executive Director and will “focus on the development of Solarcity’s key partnerships and wider industry engagement”. For his part, Neil says: “I’m excited to be part of Solarcity as it embarks on its next growth
phase – it’s a dynamic and successful company
Mark Giles has been appointed ITM’s Chairman, taking over from Gary Guernier, who departed at the end of August. The Executive Team and other Board Members are excited by the new challenges and direction Mark will bring which insiders say will be an evolution of the co-op’s current strategy with a focus on business improvement.
Greg Lowe, Group Chief Executive
at Beca, is the new New Zealand Co-Chair of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. Along with the Australian Co-Chair, Ann Sherry, Greg will oversee the ANZLF’s programme of work to further strengthen the bilateral relationship. He replaces Adrian Littlewood.
Trudy Smith, Greens Global’s Global Marketing Manager for the last six years (and an integral part of the hardware channel for the last 20!), has moved to
a role outside the plumbing industry to be able to work closer to home. Says the company: “Trudy has been an integral part of the organisation and has helped transform Greens to the global brand that it is today. Her brand and marketing expertise are evident across all partner and consumer touchpoints; our products, brochures, packaging, website and all other marketing collateral evolving under her direction.”
4 NZHJ | DECEMBER 2019
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