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.
What do you think are some of the most common mistakes businesses make?
There is a clear link between how engaged people are and marketplace success. If people don't passionately believe in why you do what you do, then culture will drop and inevitably results will follow. Culture trumps strategy in my mind. Another mistake is trying to do too much.
What is your favourite possession and why?
At the moment it's my treadmill as I enjoy exercise and it also gives me time out.
What is your business goal for 2015?
We work hard to ensure our business is successful and sustainable so we engage with internal and external stakeholders regularly to ensure we continue to meet the community's expectations. This will continue to be a large focus in 2015 and beyond as ultimately, if our people and stakeholders don't believe we are being responsible and doing the right thing in the marketplace then our business will suffer.
What are you most looking forward to in 2015 (personal or business)?
Has to be the Rugby World Cup. Supporting the ABs to do what no other team has ever done before and go back to back. It will be a mix of personal and business.