On The Ground Magazine

Grant's CEO Report is an excerpt from the Winter 2023 edition of our type: entry-hyperlink id: 4oQk3DeVaWagJnJhymUT2N magazine: "As we head deeper into winter, this will be my last column for On the Ground. When Sime Darby acquired the Goughs business back in late 2019, my role as the incoming CEO was to welcome the Goughs team into the Sime Darby family. Supporting Terra as it integrated into the wider Sime Darby Group, building on the capability already here in New Zealand and unlocking the value of our team to better serve our customers were all part of my brief. As we presented to employees on our initial road shows, the Gough and rebranded Terra business is a Kiwi business that needs to be run by Kiwis, so preparing for a Kiwi leader was part of my brief. "I'm extremely proud to confirm that type: entry-hyperlink id: 5GUPC3zyI4DqFyLSPJVNq7, our current Chief Operating Officer, takes over as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for Terra Industrial NZ Limited (Terra Cat) on 1 July. Chris started his apprenticeship with Goughs in Nelson type: entry-hyperlink id: 74ApNjUjXCqkiXem0AYiZ6 through various positions inside and outside the Caterpillar dealer family globally over the last 30 years. "As for me, I'll return to Australia and continue with type: entry-hyperlink id: uhiDt6tI8Czr7ldYvVxHa in a divisional role, assisting our leaders around Asia with their respective businesses. I’ll be taking some of the lessons learned from Terra and replicating them where they make sense. I’ll continue to engage with our New Zealand businesses, including Terra Cat and type: entry-hyperlink id: 6iz9s5LV0KpczUzTfRUvYi, from an advisory perspective. "On another matter, we recently announced to the team that we’re moving to a new site in Christchurch. We’re leaving our current Hornby facilities in Christchurch for a new location in Waterloo Park about three kilometres from our current site. Most Terra Cat activities and employees will move to the new business park, although our type: entry-hyperlink id: j5juV5Bfw8LrwBcMnE3Wc team will remain in Hornby in their modern, purpose-built facilities. "Most of Sime Darby Motor’s commercial businesses will move with us, so we’re excited that we’ll have a large Sime Darby precinct in the new location. We’ll move in stages late next year, with lots of planning already underway to make it as smooth as possible. "I spent the Easter long weekend at Wheels at Wanaka. What a fantastic event! I’ve attended a lot of field days and similar events over the last 40 years and this one was, without a doubt, the best I have ever attended. The organisers, participants, public and even the weather all came together for a terrific celebration of our industry and the automotive, trucking and agriculture industries. From our rich heritage to the latest iron, it was an amazing celebration of machinery. We also worked with OceanaGold to showcase the Cat 789D mining trucks we’ve rebuilt for them - a show highlight. I can’t wait to bring my grandkids across from Australia for the next one, so lock that in. "Lastly, as I handover to Chris, I’d like to say how privileged I feel to have been offered this assignment in New Zealand for the last four years. I have worked with such a great team of dedicated staff and fantastic customers, it has been an honour to get to know you all." - Grant Whitelaw

30 June 2023