Rheinmetall announced today that it is integrating its operations in Australia and New Zealand into a single operational unit. Gary Stewart has been appointed as the Managing Director to lead this newly integrated Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) business.
The integrated business will include the existing operations of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia, Rheinmetall Electronic Solutions Australia and Logistic Solutions Australia.
From now on, all businesses approaching the Australian and New Zealand governments under the name “Rheinmetall” will be unified within the framework of the new Rheinmetall Defence Australia organization.
Mr Stewart moves into the role after more than twelve months as chief operations officer at RDA, reporting to Andrew Fletcher. Mr Fletcher has stepped down after two and a half years spent establishing the company’s local footprint.
“The timing is right to pass the baton to Gary, as the company moves from an establishment phase to one of consolidation and growth,” Mr Fletcher said.
Mr Stewart has significant defence and industry experience that includes senior management positions at General Dynamics Land Systems in Canada and Australia, as well as delivering project management and systems engineering expertise to a range of Australian programs. Prior to his work in industry, Mr Stewart served for over a decade as an engineering officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.
“From today, Rheinmetall Defence Australia will consolidate its businesses in Australia and New Zealand as one operational unit in the form of Rheinmetall Defence Australia,” Mr Stewart said.
“I am proud to lead the company into this exciting phase where it operates as a regional hub for Rheinmetall, presenting one face to its customers and building on the significant progress we have made over the last 40 years.”
Mr Fletcher’s professional association with Rheinmetall continues through his appointment as a non‐executive director of the Rheinmetall Defence Australia Supervisory Board alongside the Hon. Robert Hill AC and Lt. General John Caligari AO, DSC (retired).
Mr Stewart also announced new appointments across Rheinmetall’s Electronics, Vehicle Systems and Weapons and Munitions businesses in Australia and New Zealand.
Terry Nichols has been appointed General Manager of Rheinmetall’s local electronics systems business as part of Rheinmetall Defence Australia. He joins the company from Boeing Defence Australia where he was most recently the Director of Program Management.
“I welcome Terry’s appointment to lead the Rheinmetall Electronics business in Australia. This is an exciting appointment and we are anticipating significant developments in this business in the coming years,” Mr Stewart said.
Marco Van Lieshout, who has been successfully leading Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles in Australia, will expand his responsibility as part of Rheinmetall Defence Australia to also include tactical vehicles and other products from the Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems Division.
Rod West steps into a new role and will lead the growth of Rheinmetall Weapons and Ammunition business in Australia and New Zealand as part of Rheinmetall Defence Australia.
| A Rheinmetall release || August 15, 2017 |||
The technology sector is booming in the South Island, especially Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and Queenstown, Delta Insurance’s Karl Samson, the only liability underwriter on the ground in the South Island, says.
Delta offers much more than insurance for technology risks, they are recognised as market leaders in the broad Liability Insurance market and this ranges from very standard coverages such as Public Liability and Statutory Liability right through to more niche products such as UAV (Drone) insurance,” Samson says.
“But in particular, Delta’s offerings for technology and cyber liability are a great fit for key South Island technology companies. We are looking to really establish ourselves as a key partner for the technology sector and we’ve just signed up as member of Canterbury Tech to better get to know some of our customers and prospective customers.
“As well as being a leader in the technology sector, we were also the first in New Zealand to offer a local environmental and pollution risk solution which, covers increasing and problematic risks such asbestos and meth. This type of innovation sets us apart from the rest.
“This point of difference is leading to a better understanding of South Island businesses and brokers. We want to provide more effective solutions to South Island businesses – one example is the technology sector,” he says.
Delta is also New Zealand’s only risk management-led cyber insurance provider with a comprehensive panel of IT experts to help clients manage their cyber security risk. This includes access to a free pre-loss cyber risk assessment as well as access to experts in the event of a cyber-attack.
Delta director Ian Pollard says its vital they have someone on the ground such as Samson who is 100 percent aware of the requirements and issues facing brokers in the South Island.
Samson has 12 years’ industry experience, with recent roles at multinational brokerages dealing with a wide range of clients across the South Island, including sole traders, listed companies and government departments. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and Management from Lincoln University.
| A Make Lemonade release || August 15, 2017 |||
MONTREAL — WSP Global is moving to expand its engineering consulting business Down Under in a deal to acquire Opus International Consultants Ltd. valued at $280.5 million including debt.
OIC brings with it 3,000 people worldwide including 1,800 in New Zealand where WSP has had a small presence as well as expertise in water-related infrastructure, transportation and asset management.
WSP spokeswoman Isabelle Adjahi said the deal, which has the support of OIC's majority shareholder, also brings potential to win bids in New Zealand.
"If you look at the market in New Zealand, it's booming in terms of infrastructure," Adjahi said in an interview Monday.
WSP is offering to pay NZ$1.78 per share and a dividend of seven N.Z. cents per share to Opus shareholders. UEM Edgenta, which owns 61.2 per cent of the shares in OIC, has agreed to support the deal.
It will be WSP's largest acquisition since Alexandre L'Heureux moved up to chief executive of WSP Global (TSX:WSP).
The transaction will move WSP Global a step closer to its goal of having a workforce of 45,000 and C$6 billion of annual net revenues by the end of 2018.
WSP Global entered Australia and New Zealand in a modest way with the 2014 purchase of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a 13,500-employee global consulting firm, for US$1.35 billion cash.
Industry analysts said the transaction makes sense and demonstrates WSP is on the path toward reaching its strategic objectives.
Maxim Sytchev of Dundee Capital Markets said the offer leverages WSP's operations in core markets and takes advantage of Opus' reducing share price despite improved operating results.
"WSP is opportunistically acquiring a good quality company that has hit serious speed bumps recently," Frederic Bastien of Raymond James added in a report.
| A BCLocal release || August 14, 2017 |||
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242