The Executive Club: Role is good fit to drive business

Heath Young likes the mix of work and family his new position offers.

Heath Young sees his role as chief operating officer as eliminating the "noise" out of the back end of the business in order to make better strategic decisions.

"You retain the numbers focus of being a financial manager, but you have to absorb a lot of the operational aspects, such as IT and HR," he said.

"You get a thorough knowledge of the pushes and pulls.

"If you can wrap your arms around all that and drive it as efficiently as you can, you get a real feel for what capacity there is in the business. Then you can harness the strategic elements."

Mr Young said the role was similar to his previous position, but it also included oversight of the marketing aspects of the business, which were especially important on the residential side.

"This is a highly successful, well-run business, but it has been doing things the same way for a number of years.

"My brief is to stand back and take a good look. It's about driving efficiencies, increasing our ability to benchmark across the business, and letting people do what they're good at."

Realty Services chief executive Ross Stanway said Mr Young had the qualities the company was seeking in terms of understanding the real estate business and having performed in a similar role.

"We see him as someone who will fit well with our people and business."

Former boss Nick Hargreaves, chief executive of Jones Lang LaSalle, said Mr Young had been thought of by staff as approachable and user-friendly.

"Above all else, he doesn't flap," he added.

Mount home choice about family
Heath Young and his wife Jane spent three months checking out Tauranga's residential property market before deciding to live in Mount Maunganui.

Mr Young is a keen golfer and runs to keep fit, while his wife also golfs and practises yoga, and the family enjoy the beach lifestyle.

The couple have three children, two girls aged seven and five, and a five-month-old boy.

"The golfing was going real well till five months ago," said Mr Young. "But now we're largely focused on the young family."

After six weeks in the Mount the couple are enjoying the fact that there are nowhere near the traffic problems of Auckland.

"Having lived here 15 years ago, I've noticed some real changes," he said. "Tauranga's growing and it's got some really good things going on. And the Mount has been through a real renaissance."

Heath Young
Role - Chief operating officer, Realty Services (since 2014)
Born - Tokoroa, New Zealand
Age - 40
First job - trainee accountant
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