New Year Honours: Award caps tumultuous year

John Bongard faced a period of unprecedented upheaval in whiteware markets while battling cancer. Photo / Martin Sykes

Being made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit ends a tumultuous 12 months for John Bongard.

The former chief executive of Fisher & Paykel Appliances was recognised for his services to business.

"It's been a year of highs and lows," said the affable CEO, who ended his 36-year career at F&P in September to battle prostate cancer.

Bongard worked his way from the backroom office to lead the high-profile company, F&P Appliances.

Latterly, that leadership role saw him face a period of unprecedented upheaval in whiteware markets and for the global economy.

Bongard left the company suddenly, following medical advice he says he should have heeded earlier. His stress levels had fallen and that had helped his health improve.

The 55-year-old joined F&P in 1973 as a 19-year-old purchasing cadet.

He held roles as manager of group purchasing, marketing manager, commercial manager and general manager of whiteware. He was appointed managing director of appliances in 2001 and chief executive in 2004.

Speaking from a holiday home in the Far North, Bongard said he appreciated the award.

"The good news is that life has been less stressful, and that has been good for my health," he said.

In November he took on a role as a director of New Zealand Netball, which had a long sponsorship arrangement with F&P.

"I'm looking at doing more work helping South Auckland - an area where I grew up."

Bongard said he had no plans to return to the corporate world.

But he does intend to get involved next year in a small business with his wife Diane and brother Mike.

Teale Metal Products is a firm with about eight staff that makes temporary road works signs.

Bongard said he had adapted to the slower lifestyle and was enjoying life.

In August he told the Herald he was saddened at leaving the organisation, but "once you make your mind up - that's the difficult part".

Back in 1973 he had gone to Fisher & Paykel to apply for a job as an assistant chemist - but it had already been taken.

He was spurred on by his mother's warning not to come home without a job and secured a purchasing cadetship working for a Mr Fisher.

Bongard was thrilled - believing he would be working under a Fisher family member. Only later did he find out the man was no relation to the Fisher family who founded Fisher & Paykel.

But in those early days he did get to know Gary Paykel, beginning a friendship and business relationship that has lasted more than three decades. Bongard began studying part-time for a commerce degree majoring in marketing and economics.

With a marketing degree in hand, he moved to the refrigeration factory where he became head of marketing, leading to his first big project - launching F&P into the Australian market in 1988.

"I was given that opportunity, so when the company did split I was appointed managing director."

The last year of his career at Fisher & Paykel has been tough.

Fisher & Paykel shocked the market in February this year when it revealed plans to raise capital and find a cornerstone investor in the wake of plunging sales and rising debt levels from the economic downturn.

With investment from the Chinese whiteware firm Haier, Fisher & Paykel has survived the year intact.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Tamsyn Parker