What is your personal business philosophy or business focus?
Freedom and autonomy are the things I value highly. My aim is to get the right people on the team and allow them to make a difference at the same time as enjoying themselves.
What was the best business decision you made for the company?
Ultimately time will tell but the integration of Emerson's Brewery would be up there for me. It was incredibly challenging after we acquired it as we wanted to avoid corporatising a great independent brewery but we knew we could help them to achieve their future growth aspirations.
What was the hardest or worst business decision you made and what did you take away from it?
The hardest decision was definitely the one to close our Canterbury Brewery in the wake of the earthquakes. Not so much the decision, because we couldn't stay on the same site and at the time we couldn't get insurance for a rebuild, but more the impact on our people and their families.
What do you think are some of the top fundamental things businesses need to do to be successful?
It's vital to get the right people throughout the organisation. One of the most important jobs that any leader has is to build a good talent bench and to help create the right culture.
Do you have a golden rule you follow or a business motto?
Treat everyone with respect. One philosophy I passionately believe in and we talk about as a business is that every time you interact with someone they either feel more positively about you and your business or less. So with every interaction, no matter how tough or who with, I try and finish on the right side of the ledger.
