Waikato Business News March/April 2023

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6 NEW APPOINTMENTS WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MARCH/APRIL 2023 HMC welcomes return of senior account manager Nicola Lee Award-winning PR and communications agency HMC has appointed Nicola Lee as senior account manager, welcoming her back to the role after a few years away to raise her young family. Nicola has worked across several sectors providing strategic communications planning and advice, including education, fundraising, health, consumer, agriculture, science, energy, local government and stakeholder relations. Her key strengths include strategic planning and implementation, digital PR, project management, stakeholder management and media relations. A skilled writer, Nicola has helped clients and organisations write successful award entries and has a special interest in fundraising and community relations communications. Nicola has led several successful client projects from planning through to implementation, including managing the announcement of New Zealand’s first medicinal cannabis company’s IPO on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, and the national public announcement of groundbreaking research findings on a nitrogen reducing plantain seed – both of which generated significant global media interest. “It’s a thrill to be back in a role that enables me to help clients succeed while also providing a challenge and allowing me to continue to grow as a PR practitioner,” Nicola says. As senior account manager at HMC, Nicola will work across a portfolio of clients in the agricultural, science, corporate and not-for-profit sectors. HMC director Heather Claycomb says she’s pleased to welcome Nicola back. “Having worked with Nicola previously I knew As an agency we continue to grow our capability in the digital and creative sector, continually adapting to the needs and direction of our clients, while also continuing to deliver the strategic advice clients have come to really value us for. she would be a great fit for the team again, and she has slipped back into her role effortlessly with clients already benefiting from her skills and expertise. Nicola Lee Virtual health service, Emergency Consult, announces new board chair Emergency Consult has announced Dr Peter Crow as its new chairman of the board, effective immediately. Dr Peter Crow Dr Crow has been working with Emergency Consult’s board for a number of months. Impressed with his deep experience in corporate governance and strategy, chief executive Jenni Falconer says he was a logical choice for the role of chairman. “We’re excited to be welcoming someone of Peter’s calibre to the Board,” says Falconer, “We started this business with a strong desire to help people - to take emergency medical expertise out of the hospitals and into communities - and we’ve grown quickly. And while we’ve been intelligent and agile in that growth, we know that Peter will bring a new level of business acumen and strategic thinking to help us realise further potential.” Dr Crow formally accepted the position in March. “It is an honour to be invited to the board of this innovative health business. It’s a privilege to work with Jenni and Dr Martyn Harvey [clinical director] and a team of dedicated health professionals. I look forward to governing with impact,” Crow says. Dr Crow is an independent board director, advisor, author, speaker and educator with international expertise in corporate governance and strategy. His sector knowledge extends across healthcare, technology and innovation, agribusiness, professional services, local government, manufacturing and distribution. He has a doctorate in corporate governance and strategy and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors. Dr Crow is also a member of several international institutions including the Global Peter Drucker Society, the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management, and the International Corporate Governance Network. Dr Crow replaces outgoing chairman Myles Whitcher, who announced his resignation from the board last month. Whitcher had worked with the doctors who founded Emergency Consult since 2020. He helped shape the business in its early days and was made chairman in May of 2022. Initially set up to provide rapid remote medical response to New Zealand’s general public, the founding team soon realised that various medical colleagues could benefit from their assistance too. Emergency Consult now partners with healthcare providers nationwide. “We’re able to ease some of the pressure from rural hospital waiting rooms, relieve emergency services, and support our colleagues in emergency departments (EDs) across Aotearoa. We also bolster clinical capability in aged residential care facilities and community clinics. And provide onthe-spot treatment in pharmacies,” Falconer says.
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MARCH/APRIL 2023 Montana Group announces Mark Wylie as new CEO Montana Group has announced that Mark Wylie has been appointed as its Chief Executive Officer, effective from 23 February 2023. NEW APPOINTMENTS 7 The new position was established to lead the company into its next phase of growth and development and as Montana Group looks to meet the growing needs of our customers and stakeholders. Directors and shareholders Dallas Fisher and Troy Reid are thrilled with the appointment and are confident that Mark’s leadership and vision will help Montana Group to achieve its strategic goals and lead them into the next chapter of our growth and success. “We believe that this is the next step in the evolution of our company and will enable us to continue to grow and succeed in a rapidly changing environment, and Mark’s experience and vision make him the perfect candidate to lead our company into the future,” Montana Group Having someone of his caliber leading the team, along with the timing of this move, has set a perfect platform for all of Montana group to work together to take our success to the next level. Very exciting times ahead. director Dallas Fisher says. “We are extremely pleased with Mark’s appointment,” Montana Group director Troy Reid says. Mark has been Montana Food and Events general manager, for the last 10 months and brings thirty-five years industry experience to the role. He has a proven track record in hospitality operations and management with a varied and interesting career working in reputable kitchens across New Zealand and internationally. On return to NZ, he has been part of SKYCITY Auckland, Hip Group, and Southern Hospitality in an array of sales, operations, and leadership roles. “I’m honoured and excited to take on the role of CEO for Montana Group,” explains Mark. “This is an incredible opportunity to work with such a diverse and talented team to continue building on the group’s success and momentum. I truly believe that Montana Group is an employer of choice with development pathways and opportunities for growth. We are known as being innovators in the market, with a focus on collaboration and partnerships that has led us to where we are today. I’m personally very excited for the future and the opportunities this will present for our staff and customers.” Mark will also act as executive director, and alongside Dallas and Troy they will form a six -person board with three final board members currently being recruited. The appointment of CEO and establishment of a Board of Directors comes as Montana Group continues to expand its offerings and industry footprint. Mark Wylie, CEO Montana Group Waikato Head Office: Gate 6, Claudelands Events Centre, Brooklyn Road, Hamilton, 3214 Auckland Head Office: 8 Mountain Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1023. www.montanagroup.co.nz Keep A Close Eye On Your Building Costs Quantity surveyors are sometimes seen as an ‘unnecessary expense’ but the money they can save homeowners, developers, builders or those funding a project can mean the difference between success and failure. One of New Zealand’s most well-respected quantity surveyors, Gus Fepuleai, lives in the Waikato and is general manager of a new Quantity Surveying firm based in Cambridge – Spectrum QS. He says quantity surveyors essentially help their clients establish a realistic budget and then act as their “eyes and ears” to manage costs. “Labour is going up and building material prices are going up. You need someone on a job that looks out for your interests with regards to the budget. Having a technical person who understands cost and is able to keep an eye on it, is of huge benefit – now more than ever.” Gus certainly understands the technical side of construction more than most. He spent eight years working on the tools as a qualified builder in Auckland before obtaining a Bachelor of Construction, with a double major in quantity surveying and property development. He also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Construction Law from Massey University, so is ideally placed to give accurate advice to banks or non-bank lenders, developers and builders. In fact, banks and non-bank lenders are frequent clients and trust Gus to guide them as they’re not construction specialists themselves. “Financiers need to know that all risks have been assessed properly and are being wellmanaged so costs do not blow out due to unexpected bills. That’s where a quantity surveyor is worth their weight in gold.” Spectrum QS provides a full range of cost management and development monitoring services for projects based anywhere in New Zealand valued at $500,000 or more. “I’ve worked on both sides of the fence – acting for banks and non-bank lenders through to project managers and developers who need value for money from their tradespeople, and even for builders who need help to comply with the conditions of their contract.” Gus says the best time to engage a quantity surveyor is at the outset, when plans are first drawn. “One of the common issues that I see is people develop drawings and get them to building consent stage. But when they go out to tender and get pricing from various builders, they find they don’t have enough money to do the job. Getting a budget done early at the design stage sets a benchmark. It’s a lot cheaper to redesign things and cut costs then, than once you start construction.” Choosing which tender to accept is another area Gus can help with. “Nine times out of 10 people will pick the cheapest option. But they won’t be aware of all the exclusions or the priced alternatives. A QS will bring everything to the same level so you’re comparing apples with apples, not apples with oranges.” Once a build is underway, a quantity surveyor will review all payment claims based on what’s actually been happening on site. They’ll also review any variations or changes to the project to ensure those costs are valid and realistic. “That’s where my building background really comes in handy,” Gus says. “If an electrician says it will take 40 hours to install a certain amount of wiring but I know it should only take 15-20 hours, I can alert the client and the problem can be proactively addressed.” Gus says the building industry is very contractual and confrontational at times. Having a cool head, plenty of experience, and good communication and negotiation skills are key attributes people should seek in a professional quantity surveyor. While it isn’t ideal, there have been plenty of instances where Gus has been brought on board halfway through a project when trouble has already struck. “So far in my career I’ve never come across a project that’s beyond repair. I’ve always found some sort of Gus Fepuleai, General Manager Spectrum Qs Ltd solution and a way to steady the ship.” The decision to be involved in Spectrum QS comes from Gus’ desire to offer a more personalised and specialist service compared to larger consultancy firms. “I am very hands-on and love working face-to-face with clients and getting out on site. People will always get to deal with me – they won’t be passed off to a junior QS.” If you’re embarking on a new project and need to keep a close eye on building costs, call Gus at Spectrum QS on 0800 777 732 for a confidential, no-obligation chat. For more info visit www.spectrumqs.co.nz.
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Waikato Business News March/April 2023

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