Gough boss to stand down after decade

Thursday, 6 July 2017

Gough Group chief executive Karl Smith with a Caterpillar road truck.

The chief executive of Gough Group, Karl Smith, is retiring after nine years in the job.

The company is owned by trusts associated with the Gough family who have been involved in a High Court battle for control.

Christchurch businessman, shareholder and director Antony Gough said, 'you don't hang onto a chief executive for nine unless he's good'.

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Smith will leave at the end of the year to take up new opportunities as an independent director of private, public and council-owned companies.

Gough Group has more than 850 employees and branches in more than 50 locations in Australia and New Zealand.

Smith had seen the companies through challenging times including the global financial crisis and Christchurch earthquakes.

Board chair Keith Taylor described him as a 'tenacious and resilient leader' who had made a 'tremendous contribution' to the Gough Group.

The company imports equipment from manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Palfinger, Hyster-Yale, SAF-Holland and WABCO.

Deputy chairman and shareholder Ben Gough said Smith would leave a lasting legacy of performance and leadership.

'The past few months have seen the highest monthly sales for the group in our 85-year history and we now have the strongest order bank we have seen for 10 years under Karl's leadership. We will sorely miss him.'

Highlights of his time with the Gough Group included major sales of Caterpillar equipment, acquisition and integration of Palfinger Australia, developing a strong health and safety culture, and dealing with the effects of the Canterbury earthquakes on Gough Group team members, customers and stakeholders.

Smith moved from Christchurch to Auckland a year ago.

He was an independent director for the Crusaders super rugby franchise for 10 years, has been a director of Lyttelton Port Company for five years, and is currently an independent director of the Ports of Auckland.