Theyre all networked, but theyre all distanced so we knew we needed to communicate really well with them and have a blueprint that we know would work. Bruce would be the first person to say he needed to have great leadership following him if he wanted to bring his hundred year vision to life. Don: Sometimes I think people dont recognise or believe or have enough passion in what theyve developed. Biography I think our owner drivers are a key component of the relationship with the customer. So it looks like Mainfreight compensates Don Braid in line with the median for the industry. Privacy policy This Supreme Court Case Could Redefine Crime, YellowstoneBackers Wanted to Cash OutThen the Streaming Bubble Burst, How Countries Leading on Early Years of Child Care Get It Right, Female Execs Are Exhausted, Frustrated and Heading for the Exits, No Major Offer Expected on Childcare in UK Budget, Biden Gives Medal of Honor to Trailblazing Special Forces Member, Climate Change Is Launching a MutantSeed Space Race, UK Braces for Rare Weather Event That Risks Late-Winter Freeze, What Do You Want to See in a Covid Memorial? Don Braid's Phone Number and Email Last Update. Brent is a senior reporter based in Queenstown. Zac: As the leader of Mainfreight, what do you personally focus on to get the team going in the right direction? His visits to our local and overseas operations guide our teams to be sales-focused and always aiming for operational excellence. Founded in 1969 as Dunedin Customs Brokers Ltd, DCB International provides international air and sea freight services from Dunedin. Watson said she did not believe bonuses were a way. Spearheading the management team at New Zealands largest supply chain logistics and transport company has paid off handsomely for Mainfreight group managing director Don Braid. Getting decisions made as close to the customer as possible is probably our secret and giving that responsibility to those in the branches. Business in the Americas also saw an improved performance, with a 29.7% increase in profit to US$25.93m, with Mainfreight's air and ocean division benefiting from resurgent demand from customers and market share gains in the US. George Adams, the departing MD, of Coca-Cola Amatil, won the Leader of the Year award at this weeks NZ Workplace Health & Safety Awards 2013. Check out our latest analysis for Mainfreight. For the latest updates on face to face courses and our safety planning see ourresponse to COVID-19 page. Chosen from New Zealand's top companies, this year's Deloitte . Should it change? It now has 22 company depots in Australia and relies on agents and third parties in the Northern Territory, Tasmania and some of regional Australia. [5] When deregulation of land transport occurred in October 1982, Mainfreight quickly took advantage of the opportunities presented and won a large share of the freight market. Email. You can be profitable and not collect the cash and go broke. Braid says the company strives to be de-centralised through giving responsibility to all individuals in the business and letting them make decisions. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Those people become good leaders early in the piece they might be only leading a couple of people by the time they make branch manager status but they understand the roles of leadership within Mainfreight. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This strong performance might mean some shareholders don't mind if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for a company of its size. Yes, wed committed an enormous amount of capital expenditure coming into this new financial year, but we were in good shape in that the balance sheet looks pretty good. Biography Don Braid, Group Managing Director of Mainfreight Limited, was educated at Timaru Boys' High School and has over 30 years' experience in freight forwarding and logistics both New Zealand and internationally.. While there was someone in the drivers seat, the computer took over the vehicle. Simon has a long association with Mainfreight having served as the Companys main adviser for acquisitions, debt structure and other matters since 2003 (through Grant Samuel & Associates), prior to joining the Mainfreight Board. Educated at Timaru Boys High School, Braid has been described as possibly the most self-effacing leader of major listed company in New Zealand and is widely regarded as straight-talking and strong leader. We tackle critical leadership, management and economic issues as well as profiling successful local and global leaders. The firm's shares have been one of the best performing stocks on the NZX, returning more than. Investors who take an interest in Mainfreight Limited ( NZSE:MFT) should definitely note that the Group MD & Director, Donald Braid, recently paid NZ$74.61 per share to buy NZ$500k worth of. Its the individuals responsibility to arrive on time and stay until the jobs finished. Rising inflation and labour shortages have added to the Covid-19 melting pot, crippling global supply chains and trade growth. So it doesnt matter whether youre loading freight, taking customer service calls, out making sales calls, or an operations transport manager, you understand those disciplines early on in the piece. Target has offices in 35 cities throughout the United States and an international network of agents in over 70 countries.[15]. See the full transcript below. Copyright 2023 Institute of Directors We will probably go back to normal but be ready to adapt, be flexible and look after your people theyll bring the answers to the table for you on what your business will look like in the future. As an example, we know what money weve made or lost last week in every single one of those 282 branches as of about half an hour ago. I think the only measure of whether weve got the culture right will be seen in the numbers and in the customer service. We have been monitoring government updates regarding COVID-19 and are keeping up to date with Ministry of Health guidance with regard to events and public gatherings. Do also serves as a member of the Board of the Starship foundation. As a young salesperson aged 19, I couldnt make a cold call. Your email address will not be published. [16] In 2020, CaroTrans Chile was re-branded as Mainfreight Chile. The CEO of Mainfreight Limited (NZSE:MFT) is Don Braid, and this article examines the executive's compensation against the backdrop of overall company performance. Don: The recruitment of our people sits with the branch managers. What more could I be doing in the business to actually grow my revenues in these difficult times? And sometimes, particularly so in New Zealand, they see the market ultimately being as quite small, when in fact their product or service is good enough to take to the world. Engage via Email. Our website uses cookies to give you the best possible experience and to help us understand how our site is being used. Don: Theres been lots of things actually, like electric forklifts, the use of solar power Heres a good example: in New Zealand weve never had time clocks. So you need to be committed for the long term.The clich about the beach, the BMW and the boat it looks pretty attractive after 10 years of hard work but what could you have created after a hundred years and have you got something thats a bit special?I think you need passion, energy, belief and the ability to develop people to run the business for the future. Richard has been elected a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. And in applying that New Zealand blueprint to all regions, we knew we were pretty much in control. It's interesting to note that Mainfreight allocates a smaller portion of compensation to salary in comparison to the broader industry. This is vitally important for all business to remain financially viable and it is where more than often we see business failures and especially in the Building Construction Industries which I was involved in. Zac: Can you share more about your profit share? We continue to be optimistic and we are bloody proud of our people who have delivered this record result.. Its Mainfreights style to offer career progression, giving people here a long-term career in the business, allowing them to find that space to develop the leadership traits. Hi Tanya. Its an intimate touch with the P&L; the weeklies tell us lot. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Photo / Supplied . Wed prefer to shake hands and know that our integrity and the way that we do business works with our partners long term. And then it was a matter of communication and staying in touch, making sure everyone was okay, making sure any questions were answered. You know, people arrive when they arrive and they leave when they leave. Zac: Don, what makes you good? And if you dont make a profit, theres no bonus that year. Mainfreight boss Don Braid sees fresh opportunities in China's Belt and Road initiative, writes Bill Bennett. Investment has to come year on year it cant just come as a bribe at election time., Embracing the company motto that Good enough is never enough, Braid is focused on fulfilling a vision to make Mainfreight a 100-year company. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.Have feedback on this article? | Don: The culture is really important and our culture starts with those closest to the customer. Don: Well, the numbers never lie, right? Under his guidance, the freight and logistics company has grown and expanded to now run operations in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the United States. He is unquestionably our Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Executive of the Year. Mainfreight managing director Don Braid, left, and founder and chairman Bruce Plested who says businesses should share profits with workers. "He never talks about himself and always talks about long-term goals," Hunt says. [14], In September 2007, it was reported by Business Wire that Mainfreight had signed a merger agreement with NYSE American-listed Target Logistics for $2.50 a share; for a total of US$54 million. It remains a very exciting journey., Spearheading the management team at New Zealands largest supply chain logistics and transport company has paid off handsomely for, Well known for his mental and physical toughness, Braid is often seen working out at The Atrium Club in downtown Auckland, which offers real world fitness for men. His sartorial style was also recognised in 2006 when he was judged the national winner of the. The company is on track to go close to the $2 billion mark in its current financial year, Braid says, having already posted an almost $900 million revenue for the six months to September. "He never moans about the currency and is always positive.". Mainfreight is publicly listed on the NZ Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of $8+ billion. So it looks like Mainfreight compensates Don Braid in line with the median for the industry. | [3] [4] When the company was founded it entered a highly regulated transport market. Zac: Don, having a decentralized business, whats been your approach to leadership? This information will be used to measure the effectiveness of our advertising from various channels and to offer you personalised ads. I might get a little bit wound up about stuff, a bit passionate about things, but I think you cant get so involved that you think about nothing else. As a Kiwi living in England and studying management currently, I have really enjoyed reading this interview. We dont call them staff for us, they are our people or our team. Revenues were up $448.4m to $3.5 billion, a 14.5% increase on the prior year, with 76% of that now generated outside New Zealand. FINALIST Its about the other employees seeing the numbers; dont forget, we share those profits with our people too so theres internal pressure to perform too. He has clear vision of what it will take to navigate the unforgiving roads and heavy traffic of the international freight marketplace and so far he has kept this business right on track. BusinessDesk has a paywall for most of its content. Also, such solid returns might lead to shareholders warming to the idea of a bump in pay. He is highly respected and success-driven executive who has made Kiwibank fly when many thought it would struggle to get off the ground. So we have these 282 locations across 20 countries how do we get them each operating at their peak, every day? How do I gain more customers? He joined Daily Freightways in 1978, gaining a thorough grounding in all aspects of the business and eventually heading up that company. Well known for his mental and physical toughness, Braid is often seen working out at The Atrium Club in downtown Auckland, which offers real world fitness for men. His sartorial style was also recognised in 2006 when he was judged the national winner of the NBR Working Style Best Dressed Businessman Awards. Chief executive, Mainfreight He knows where the company is going and, more importantly, how it will get there. The Asian business saw profits more than double to US$7m, driven by increases in market share and rate increases from both air and see freight, the firm said. They established agencies in the early days with Australian, Pacific Island and United States freight forwarders and the established agents in most major trading partner countries of New Zealand. Involved in the founding of Kiwibank before taking the top job, Knowles embraces challenge and thrives on delivering top results. Indonesia ups trade potential with focus on corporate governance, NZ business needs to invest more in reputation, NZ corporates taking a lead in health & safety. Other Current Significant Directorships and Trusteeships: BUPA ANZ Pty Limited (Chairman), Adherium Limited, Clearspan Limited, Thinxtra Australia, Starship Foundation, Massey University Foundation. Our thoughts are with our members and their organisations impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. In November 2014, Mainfreight acquired a regional air and sea freight company located in Dunedin. Ideal traits we want to see in leaders are integrity, being trustworthy and capable of bottom up decision-making, not top down. See ourstandard terms and conditionsfor more information. By the way, its not just about us seeing those numbers. He has issued a New research confirms the importance that NZ business leaders place on reputation, but reveals that many companies need to increase their investment in building and protecting it. And thats why we travel a lot when you visit, you can smell the morale in an instant. Despite international growth and success, Braid is passionate about keeping the company proudly Kiwi-owned and has been an outspoken voice on local transport and infrastructure matters. He owns a 3 per cent stake in the firm, worth about $29 million. Don Braid has been with freight and logistics company Mainfreight since 1994, after joining the firm as part of the acquisition of Daily Freightways (where he had been for 16 years). I dont see this as a job, so therefore the stress levels arent as strong. Likewise, his strongly-held beliefs relating to the importance of education and of recycling/ sustainability, continue to positively shape the Companys behaviours. Im sure that everyone on this video call will be wanting to shake hands and sit across the table and deal face to face because of the body language thing and being able to ask more questions, whereas the video is quite limiting. He has led the company in strengthening its global logistics business and ensuring an increased diversification of revenue streams across many countries, trade lanes and activities provides The NZ team, who had really done a great job through the Kaikoura and Christchurch earthquakes, quickly put together a plan on how to react. So the idea was to make sure that our people were right, that our systems were ok, what customers could trade, and how we could help those customers as an essential service. By becoming a supporter, you'll be helping us expand our independent journalism for the business community. Weekly operational reports are posted on the wall of the company cafeteria in Otahuhu, where all team members, including Braid, eat at a single, long table. "There's no bureaucracy or hierarchy or superiority in the business. [13] The transaction was completed on 6 June 2007. Mainfreight Limited is a New Zealand logistics and transport company headquartered in Auckland. And I think ultimately, yes, Im responsible for the business, but I enjoy what I do and having great people and a good lifestyle where I can stay fit and have some fun means the stress levels arent that high. So weve got eight and a half thousand people and 282 locations. The multinational logistics and transport group announced a year end dividend of 45 cents a share, taking the full dividend for the year to 75c, up 27% on the prior year. Grant Samuel & Associates Ltd. Kate brings to the Board her broad financial and analytical experience acquired in a range of industries, both in New Zealand and overseas. Look after our people, look after our customers, guard our cash, and embrace the opportunities that may arise.. Moving away from current form for a second, it could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future. Their understanding of disciplines and what the expectations are embedded early on so our culture is strong and then you give them responsibility.