Talking Heads: Dr James Kennedy

Name: Dr James Kennedy

Position: Chief executive Invensys Energy Systems NZ.

500 staff, $100 million annual turnover.

What makes your day at work?

Well, it's a cliche, but there is nothing I like more than knowing that we have won a new customer or delighted an existing one. We work in a complex business and we sell in a multitude of ways, so it's always pleasing to win customers.

How did you get to where you are today?

First, I realised very early on that you must never stop learning. I've always believed in leading from the front and using my experience to teach others.

I spent a couple of years at a university in Alberta, Canada, where I did post-doctorate research into metal poisoning in blood. So I haven't always been a businessman, and while I would say I don't use the technical knowledge that much now, the discipline I learned helps immensely.

What was the most important lesson you learned on your way up?

Plan ahead. I plan my day, my week and my year. That's the discipline I learned during my research - you must have a long-term strategy. If you do [things] by chance you can find [they] take a lot longer than they need to. I've learned that nothing in business is impossible, and there's always a way to achieve what you want. It depends on spending the money, investing the time and the resources, but it can always be done.

What advice would you give to a young person starting out on a business career?

Work on honing your interpersonal skills because business is about dealing with people. My family have always been involved in business, and I spent a lot of time with my father in business when I was young. From that I developed an intuition for things. I pumped gas at his service station and every day I was surprised by the diversity of the people you meet - in a positive way, but sometimes a negative way, too.

Be someone who is willing to take ownership; there will always be roles for people who accept responsibility and deliver results. Be technologically aware and be ready to change as new ways of business become available.

How have you dealt with any pitfalls in your career?

Pitfalls have sometimes occurred when I've tried something new, but I've always tried to deal with them by having a plan B or even a plan C.

By experience, I know that if you are trying something new you must have that planning and long-term strategy in place. If you do, you'll have the plan B or C to fall back on.

What's the biggest challenge for your organisation in the present economy?

Our biggest challenge is to anticipate the needs of our customers. This includes knowing what improvements to make to our existing products and what new products to develop. It also extends to adapting to new ways of doing business, such as use of the internet. From this challenge follows the need to attract and retain the skilled staff we need at all levels of our business. It can be difficult keeping staff, particularly the type we need. There is a global shortage of them, but that's where Christchurch helps us because people tend to come here for a lifestyle.

We probably have more stability with staff because as we interview and employ them we try to find out their motivations outside work as well. We look for an all-round fit into the company and the culture outside work, too. That makes for a stable and motivated employee.

What ambitions do you have?

My present ambition is to see Invensys Energy Systems New Zealand continue to progress up the value chain. We must continue to improve our range of added-value products and services to the point where we are a one-stop shop for all our customers' needs in the field of secure power supplies. I intend for us to become very proactive in the use of e-business and online technology.

How do you relax?

Family time with my wife and children is always the perfect way for me to relax. I also enjoy sailing and reading.

* James Kennedy spoke with Paula Oliver.