Mainfreights two new build warehouses, a 50,000 square metre facility in Sydney and 30,000sqm build in Melbourne, are scheduled for completion by end next year. Don: The recruitment of our people sits with the branch managers. In his results commentary, Braid said the results were pleasing in light of initial supply chain disruptions during the early part of the year, on the back of lockdowns in response to the global pandemic. Two other directors joined KiwiRail's board earlier this year, Rob Jager and Ed Sims. Since the acquisition of the Wim Bosman Group the eurozone has spiralled to the brink of economic disaster, but 52-year-old Braid says doing business on the debt-ravaged continent is nothing other than an "exciting" prospect. Founded by NBR Rich Lister Bruce Plested, Mainfreight has become a global juggernaut on Braids watch. 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. Zac: How do you prioritise where to spend your time in a normal week? Zac: What are your thoughts on driverless trucks and how they will affect Mainfreight? Mainfreight was founded on 6 March 1978 by Bruce Plested who started the company with just $ 7,200 and a 1969 Bedford truck. Bryan has a wealth of experience, both in executive and board roles. A licence from New Zealand Railways Corporation was needed to carry freight over 150km. Please note that with cookies disabled you will have a degraded experience with some features. Today he chairs a group of telecommunication companies. He owns a 3 per cent stake in the firm, worth about $29 million. Don joined in 1994 and hes been on the board since 2000 and the CEO for a heck of a long time. But, he said the first seven weeks of trading in the current year has been at similar levels to the past six months. 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. 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. The firm has earned a reputation within the market for being slickly-run. [13] The transaction was completed on 6 June 2007. With the takeover of the Owens Group in 2003 they purchased Owens International Australia. 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. He's got plenty of charm if he wants to have it and his leadership skills just stand out people want to stand next to him, Plested was quoted as saying after Braid was selected as the 2011 Business Leader of the Year. Insurers support an immediate managed retreat for recent flood victims. And thats that. Ideal traits we want to see in leaders are integrity, being trustworthy and capable of bottom up decision-making, not top down. The trick is to decentralize it and to give them control of the profit and loss, allow them to have sufficient KPIs, and measurement systems to monitor those as quickly as possible so that nothing gets out of control. 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. Don has led the Mainfreight team through a significant period of change and expansion to become the successful global supply chain logistics provider it is today, with businesses operating in over 214 branches throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Asia and the United States. So Don, my first question is whats been your main focus the past two months during Covid times and leading Mainfreight and global business? Engage via Email. Early in my career I understood that I enjoyed the interaction with customers and in fact I enjoy the challenge of helping win new customers. 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. Concerned about the content? Watson said she did not believe bonuses were a way. Youve got to think about that as small groups of people looking after our customers and each group is important in their own right and theyll have their own little traits. Your email address will not be published. The lawsuit claimed that Wim Bosman, the former owner, had prior knowledge of a large client, Giant Bicycles, intentions to end corporate ties with the group. In 1994 Mainfreight purchased the business, and Don went on to hold various senior management roles at Mainfreight prior to his appointment as Managing Director in 2000. The price of the rights fell as low as 7.5 cents on the last day of trading. So youre not only giving them a responsibility for the P&L, but youre also giving them the responsibility of whos going to join our family. I give them the ability and the responsibility to deliver, and I give them great support and lots of guidance. Thanks Mr Braid for sharing your knowledge and insight. 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. National's three waters policy is only cosmetically distinct from Labour's. As Group Managing Director of Mainfreight Limited - one of New Zealands largest freight companies - Don Braid joins us to share key insights for directors into the changing patterns of these chains and what the future may hold. 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. The key for me is to be in the business as much as possible, to be visible. In 2008, the United States locations were re-branded as Mainfreight USA. Those are the real world indicators of whether youve got morale correct or not or whether youve got some issues going on you need to address. FINALIST [16] In 2020, CaroTrans Chile was re-branded as Mainfreight Chile. That means a lot of travel, but the reality is I thought my skills were best used in front of a customer so thats what I focused on. In the decade Braid has spent at its helm, the company has become a global logistics player with operations on every populated continent apart from Africa. Rob Fyfe is the polished and personable face of the new lean and globally competitive Air New Zealand. Should it change? | Id also be really focused on being in touch with customers. Moreover, Don Braid also holds NZ$171m worth of Mainfreight stock directly under their own name, which reveals to us that they have a significant personal stake in the company. 2023: A year of trepidation unless you take control, Talking to 2022 Westpac Supreme Business Winner, Juliette Hogan, How Fix & Fogg are winning the hearts of Americans. Mainfreight is a truly brilliant organization who sees all staff and their Franchises businesses as friends not employees. On the Money: Tim Boyd he's back; James Lee he's leaving, and more New drugs could end the worlds obesity epidemic, Big plus for NZ schools and govt agencies, Growing wealth through our cities growth, Insurers call on government to seize the day, Smoke, mirrors and delay Nationals three waters policy, Former CentrePort CEO Liz Ward joins KiwiRail board. His leadership is underpinned by a strong belief in Mainfreights global competency and capabilities to provide high-quality supply chain solutions for our customers. Although Plested remains the largest shareholder with a 16% stake worth $395m, Braid's more modest 2.79% stake is still worth about $70m - supplemented by annual remuneration of $2.2m in 2017. 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. 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. "[8], In June 2013, Mainfreight launched a lawsuit seeking 11 million or $18 million against Wim Bosman Group's former owners. His leadership is underpinned by a strong belief in Mainfreight's global competency and capabilities to provide high-quality supply chain solutions for our customers. 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). So it looks like Mainfreight compensates Don Braid in line with the median for the industry. Zac: Can you share what some of the great ideas youve actually brought from overseas have been? Wed rather own assets than lease them. Their understanding of disciplines and what the expectations are embedded early on so our culture is strong and then you give them responsibility. On 11 June 2007, Mainfreight 'signed a call option deed' to purchase the entirety of the shares of Australian-based Halford International. Talking in terms of the industry, salary represented approximately 91% of total compensation out of all the companies we analyzed, while other remuneration made up 9.3% of the pie. Don: Um, I think its recognising good people. Nothing drives home the state of our roads like a trip on a bike. We dont call them staff for us, they are our people or our team. Its important to be as flexible as we can to bring an offering that the customer requires during a really tough time. While many companies have been battening down the hatches this year, Mainfreight has been on the acquisition trail - purchasing a Netherlands-based freight business which operates in Belgium, France, Romania and Poland and Russia. In light of current trends, we will provide a nine-month trading update mid-February 2022. 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 natural protection for earnings.