Business Leaders

Style and grace mark doyenne of hair and beauty

For 50 years Kay has been at the forefront of hair design, owning and operating hair salons and beauty clinics in Hastings, Taradale and Havelock North. As she passionately rolls out MèCHE (pronounced Mesh), the latest brand reincarnation of what started back in 1968 as Kay’s Salon, there’s no way she’s standing still or looking at retiring – just yet....

High Flying Scot ready to take airport into new era

The Hawke’s Bay Airport has a new chief executive. Stuart Ainslie, a Scot, who brings a wealth of experience within the aviation sector and he's arrived with fresh eyes and ideas on how to further establish the airport as the gateway to the region. Where are you from? I was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, which was the original capital seat...

Port success sets region up for growth

The foundations for the growth and success of our regional economy are underway at Napier Port, with the operation posting record cargo volumes, delivering a strong financial result, and lodging an application for consent to build a new wharf. A record 4.754 million tonnes of cargo crossed the port’s wharves in the year to 30 September 2017, up from 3.916...

New pastures for Brent Linn

Brent Linn has stepped down as general manager of Hawke’s Bay A & P Society, one of the region’s oldest and most traditional organisations. Brent was in the role for seven years and during that time has seen the society add additional events such as the Edible Garden Show, while at the same time ensuring the long-term sustainability of the...

Nash rolls sleeves up for SME’s

There’s a new party running the country, Labour, and Napier MP Stuart Nash has picked up one of the most coveted and important portfolios – in fact he’s got two – Minister for Small Business and Minister of Police. We thought it was important to get Stuart’s views on how the government can support SMEs and what opportunities he sees exist for...

Garth Cowie – Napier Port boss weighs anchor after 18 years

Back in 1999, Garth Cowie “traded oysters for red wine” when he left the top job at South Port in Bluff and headed north to become chief executive at Napier Port. “At the time I most probably thought I was getting the raw end of the deal but I’ve certainly found that the lifestyle and the growth prospects here were...

George Reedy – Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga chief executive

George Reedy is the chief executive of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, a charitable trust that provides a wide range of health, social and education services to over 10,000 whanau. The Profit put a series of questions to George. What’s your background? I grew up in Tikitiki, up the East Coast, surrounded by uncles, aunts and grandparents. That gave me a...

Mavis Mullins – from the shearing shed to the boardroom

The Bay's own Mavis Mullins has been inducted to New Zealand's Business Hall of Fame, adding to the already long list of her accomplishments in the nation's corporate sector. Hawke's Bay born and bred, the self-described country girl has left a lasting impression on a world she never intended to inhabit. "I have to say ending up where I have...

Christopher Keys – HB Wine Export

Gibbston Valley is one of Central Otago’s founding wineries and is acknowledged globally as a top producer of Pinot Noir. It has the largest wine cave and busiest cellar door in the country, and its chief winemaker is Hastings Boys’ High School old boy Christopher Keys. Christopher has been at Gibbston Valley since 2006, having moved to the south from...

Palmer not about to tread water

James Palmer was appointed the new chief executive for the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in June. He has taken on the challenging role at an organisation that has been under the public spotlight for a range of issues such as the ongoing Ruataniwha Water Storage Project, the water contamination crisis that struck Havelock North and the current consenting process for...