Immediate past employment - General Manager and Director
I lead this private investment company for the last seven years in the development and leasing of intellectual property. From a tiny new debt strapped trade publication business to ownership of New Zealand’s largest, most secure and profitable leading franchised group in its industry today. Group turn-over now in excess of million dollars per week. I was involved in governance and lead operational management. I wrote most of the franchise manual, developed the training, organised the trade conferences, and led very significant advertising campaigns, customer loyalty programs, and developed over 200 integrated alliances that created funding for all of our activities. This intellectual property is now very complex and specialised but provides unparalleled profitable performance.
Prior that; Business Growth Consultant
My consulting work included providing advice to local small and medium sized business on how to grow. I provided advice with introduction of quality systems, restructurings, business sales and acquisitions and succession planning. I provided advice on funding for technologies and opportunities, and development or protection of intellectual property, and organised industry events and other business seminars and publications.
Commercial Property Management
Property management, operations, financial and marketing manager for two malls. One mall had a complex multiple titles of strata ownership and the smaller mall was under foreign ownership. I managed all onsite operations including site maintenance, security, administration and marketing. Increased visitor traffic over 20%, reduced criminal incidents from average annual total of over 200 to just 3, and staff turnover from previous year 18 to nil. Reduced operating expenses by 28% and brought in new tenants..
Projects Manager
Developed and implemented a plan to reinvigorate a whole CBD. Provided small business mentoring, business advice service and advocacy, ran small business development seminars. Major event promotion, urban landscape project coordination and funding.
Bullion Refinery Project
Engaged to explore and to develop new opportunities in the fine metals [bullion] industry. The result of the project was the growth of the customer base from 4 to over 300 including successfully negotiating for contracts with all of Auckland’s hospitals [CHE’s] against existing contractors. I researched internationally and personally designed and built New Zealand’s largest electro-chemical heavy metals recovery unit. This company refines around a million dollars a day in gold and other heavy or fine metals and so operates in an extraordinarily secure environment. My deals were sealed on a handshake where a bank cheque was not trusted; personal integrity was paramount.
Partner, private company
Start-up business in Manukau. Retail importer, distributor, studio, rental facilities, processing. Grew this start-up from nil to million dollar sales in less than one year. Developed innovative customer relationship marketing and incentives program.
General Manager and Franchise Manager
As Group Manager and Franchise Manager the group grew from 24 to 36 stores. The preceding 3 years had seen only three stores converted to franchise. I established 12 in 12 months, sourcing buyers, negotiating franchise agreements and opening new stores. The released capital was mainly used to grow the group later to 40 stores. During my management period the companies per store and total group profits were at the highest they had been in the companies 36 year history.
Business owner
Advertising and industrial photography, copy writing and creation of sales catalogues, advertising literature and direct marketing material. Set up outbound telephone sales marketing system. Developed into 5 specialist studios, brought in partner and later sold out to him.
North Island Regional Manager
Manager for the northern region of the Christchurch based company. Sales, warehousing and distribution company handling assorted consumer durables, medical, electronics, optical and scientific machinery. I managed a very strictly controlled Customs Bonded Warehouse for import/export of Duty Free goods. Sales increased 25% and net profit by 128%.
Purchasing and later Factory Production Manager
UK based industrial safety equipment manufacturer and distributor. PVC and leather manufacturing, industrial dry-cleaning and safety equipment development. I developed the innovative ‘fire retardant plastic’ that is used to make firemen’s’ waterproof coats.
Sales and Photographic Assistant
Apprenticed straight from college as technician learning all facets of photography from technical forensic photography and processing to portraits. I developed several specialist tropical formulae later patented by the company.
