Don Braid - newzealandinc.com So a lot is about the long game. National's three waters policy is only cosmetically distinct from Labour's. BRAID, Don - NBR | The Authority since 1970 He points out that 172 million people live within a 350 km radius of Wim Bosman's headquarters in's-Heerenberg, on the Dutch-German border. He has also lent his considerable support to not-for-profit organisations such as the Starship Foundation. Don Braid is a Group Managing Director at Mainfreight NZ based in Mangere, . Chief executive, Mainfreight By becoming a supporter, you'll be helping us expand our independent journalism for the business community. And then its about exploring the long game. Some of the leading players in the listed retirement sector have been raising capital. How we can fix New Zealand's ports - Don Braid | BusinessDesk The Group MD & Director of Mainfreight Limited (NZSE:MFT), Donald Braid Theres no bullshit in the numbers, they are what the business has earned. It is our strong belief that the momentum we have will continue, and will develop at a faster pace than we have experienced in the past, thanks to our people, our network and our culture. He knows where the company is going and, more importantly, how it will get there. He believes in fostering an innovative culture in the organisation and encourages top performances from his teams. "We need to try and paint the picture around Mainfreight here and what Mainfreight is, that to me is of more interest than whether I like rugby or cricket. Then we just sat back and allowed the de-centralized process to take over and allowed people to take responsibility to get their businesses sorted and in line. Pot vote has Oklahoma hungry to rake in green from Texas, How Ron DeSantis misreads Corporate America, Tesla recalls 3,470 Model Y vehicles over loose bolts, 3 big things in investing you might have missed this week, UPDATE 1-North Korea says US causing international arms control collapse. Thats the key. To trust your people too, to give them the responsibility. Dogged determination, drive and eternal optimism - they're all qualities Don Braid exudes. PO Box 65092, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand, Top 200 : Deloitte/Management magazine Executive of the Year Don Braid Clear Vision. "You need some energy and you need to be on the front foot," he says. How are we changing the business accordingly? Fyfe joined Air New Zealand at the start of 2003 as chief information officer, before becoming group general manager airlines from October 2003 until his appointment as CEO in October 2005. So we have these 282 locations across 20 countries how do we get them each operating at their peak, every day? Look after our people, look after our customers, guard our cash, and embrace the opportunities that may arise.. 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. Its an intimate touch with the P&L; the weeklies tell us lot. We would meet with them once a week and theyd share what theyd discovered and what they hadnt discovered and wed give them some guidance but then get out of their way and let them get on with the job. The long-term effects must be carefully studied. How do I gain more customers? As weve matured and grown around the rest of network, were now learning things that we can bring back to New Zealand. Don: I think its quite a long way off. We note that the salary portion, which stands at NZ$2.20m constitutes the majority of total compensation received by the CEO. Managing director Don Braid said Covid-19 fully tested Mainfreight's resilience, but it also necessitated some fundamental commitments. Braid says the Mainfreight culture and passion took hold pretty quickly, and Plested recognised his leadership strengths by appointing him to the board six years later. Youve got to break it down. Filed Under: Blog, Business coaching, Motivation coming at ya, What a great interview and there are many excellent points which the Mainfreight CEO covered like Empathy which is essential when supporting all those involved in Mainfreights success and another dealt with the importance of making sure all invoices are paid on time. 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. Early in the piece at Mainfreight, leaders are given responsibility, so the ability to take responsibility and to make decisions is pretty important. I just have a belief and determination that weve got a pretty good business here. And in applying that New Zealand blueprint to all regions, we knew we were pretty much in control. Another attribute is straight talking. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.Have feedback on this article? The firm's Australian domestic freight and logistics division, Mainfreight Distribution, began operations in 1989, with an operation in Sydney. Mainfreight Limited is a New Zealand logistics and transport company headquartered in Auckland. In November 2014, Mainfreight acquired a regional air and sea freight company located in Dunedin. In March 2011, Mainfreight entered the European market with the acquisition of Netherlands-based company Wim Bosman Group for 120 million; or $227 million. More importantly, the people in those branches know what they did last week, and which were the right decisions or the wrong decisions. Kiwis know the firm largely through its blue trucks that ply our highways, but the company also utilises sea, train and air freight to transport goods around the world. Mainfreight was founded on 6 March 1978 by Bruce Plested who started the company with just $ 7,200 and a 1969 Bedford truck. Its even more exciting doing that in offshore markets with a really big customer where youre actually sitting in front of them and we know we will turn our industry upside down by winning quite large business off the incumbents. He joined Daily Freightways in 1978, gaining a thorough grounding in all aspects of the business and eventually heading up . Boards have a key role to play in the wake of any crisis. With Don Braid at the wheel, Mainfreight is in safe and skilful hands. Theres a video of it happening and what was really exciting was once the clock came off the wall, you could hear the laughter and the clapping and the voices of approval from those who were watching. I think with a driverless truck, well lose that ability of interaction with the customer on pickup or on delivery. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. We were lucky enough to have a really incredible chat with Mainfreight CEO Don Braid about what he has learnt as the CEO of Mainfreight. And thats that. And then it was a matter of communication and staying in touch, making sure everyone was okay, making sure any questions were answered. Wishing you the best in England and when you return to NZ. Then we got some momentum and we saw some of the other regions doing better than what we thought so we felt better about it. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Experts say community investment is the future. Mainfreight will pay a discretionary bonus of $43.9 million, up 61% from last year's bonus of $27.3m, after a record result to March which saw net profit up by $40.1m to $188.1m. "He never talks about himself and always talks about long-term goals," Hunt says. Although Plested remains the largest shareholder with a 16% stake worth $395m, Braids more modest 2.79% stake is still worth about $70m supplemented by annual remuneration of $2.2m in 2017. Who wouldnt want exposure to the retirement sector? They know that now and can alter those decisions as they head into the week in front of them. Contact. Zac: Lets talk more about those weekly P&Ls. Group managing director Don Braid said it was a significant result for the Mainfreight family, achieved during a tumultuous time in the worlds history and with success in every one of the five regions the company operated. Thanks Mr Braid for sharing your knowledge and insight. See guidance for chairs and directors. Whilst describing the foundation of Mainfreight in 2000, Plested said to the New Zealand Herald, "We moved all our freight by sea between Auckland, and Christchurch and Dunedin, and we worked weekend shifts to make sure we loaded and unloaded the ship using the whole of the seven days - we found that was faster and more reliable than our big competitors."[4]. 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. With Covid, the New Zealand team would meet every day for the first four weeks during lockdown. Don has over 40 years' experience in the freight industry, including 26 with Mainfreight. Target operate domestic and international time-sensitive freight-forwarding and logistics services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Target Logistic Services. His visits to our local and overseas operations guide our teams to be sales-focused and always aiming for operational excellence. 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. 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. But they had different regulations for different countries: it was a metre between the two trucks, it was a metre and half in Belgium, and it was two meters in France. Mainfreight is the fourth largest company in NZ, doing over $3 billion in sales and over $300 million in EBITDA, with physical assets of $1.5 billion and debt of less than $200 million. Don Braid - Group Managing Director - Mainfreight NZ | ZoomInfo "I don't think any of those things are really of interest to this," he says. 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 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. Bryan has a wealth of experience, both in executive and board roles. He previously worked for the Otago Daily Times, after a return to business journalism in 2018. Is our service or a product still current? [9], Within its announcement, the Mainfreight sad, "Wim Bosman is a well respected, profitable organisation which will provide Mainfreight with a significant European presence and opportunity to further grow its supply chain logistic services throughout the world. Is Mainfreight Limited (NZSE:MFT) Overpaying Its CEO? - Yahoo! Braid said Mainfreight was on track to push close to the $2 billion sales mark by March next year. Braid said that while Mainfreights people can be proud of the way they stood up to be counted, there would continue to be uncertainty with heavily congested supply chains continuing to affect the worlds freight lanes. Don: Um, I think its recognising good people. 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. 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. Its about making sure they dont lose the disciplines that make us who we are but embracing them as people delivering for our customers. Director Profiles | New Zealand - Mainfreight 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. Mainfreight's $43.9m 'family' bonus | BusinessDesk Mainfreight half year net profit lifts 79 per cent despite supply chain Mainfreight is publicly listed on the NZ Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of $8+ billion. Ideal traits we want to see in leaders are integrity, being trustworthy and capable of bottom up decision-making, not top down. [13] The transaction was completed on 6 June 2007. Early on, New Zealand had great lessons to take to the rest of our network. Don Braid The branch managers are the kings and queens, by the way, because thats where the moneys made the national team is just there to support the branch managers. Chief executive, Air New Zealand "He's sporting and tough and makes decisions quite fast," Plested says. The key for me is to be in the business as much as possible, to be visible. [10] In August 2013, Mainfreight and the family of Wim Bosman reached an out of court agreement for compensation to the tune of 8.2 million or $14 million. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | Business Changing Ltd. | Website by Casual Fridays. "He implements things very well and you don't have to remind him about anything you're trying to achieve. Zac: Don, what makes you good? Braid consistently delivers for shareholders and stakeholders alike. The company also noted Brexit issues between the UK and Europe remained a cause of frustration, particularly since January, resulting in considerable delays to freight on the back of more complicated customs formalities. Mainfreight's straight-talking group managing director has an infectious zest for business. So for the first couple of weeks of lockdown in New Zealand, we were wondering, how deep is this going to go? Theres no cross subsidies. Braid said Mainfreight was on track to push close to the $2 billion sales mark by March next year. But the excitement is justified. Leading reputation management consultant Noke Kiroyan says it is perfectly possible although not always easy to run a business in Indonesia without resorting to corrupt behaviour. Offices are outlawed, even for Braid, whose desk is situated in the corner of a large, open-plan room occupied by the company's national team. Cash flow is essential for any business survival. Biography The firm's shares have been one of the best performing stocks on the NZX, returning more than. 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. So each person can earn some more money by not just making profit, but keeping customers happy, keeping claims to a lower amount, making sure were collecting cash, making sure that were delivering freight in full and on time but the base bonus, everybody gets the same amount no matter whether youve been there for one year or for 40 years and no matter what your position is. I guess whats annoying is that we have got to wait for an election year to get this kind of stuff. Zac: Don, if you owned your own SME business at the moment, what would you be focusing on going forward to be as successful as you could be under this environment? [2] In 1979, Bruce Plested partnered with Neil Graham, with Graham based in Christchurch and Plested in Auckland. He is fiercely proud of the Mainfreight culture seeing this as a key reason customers choose Mainfreight over the competition. Though his father was a truck driver, Timaru-born Braid can't recall being influenced by this. He runs the businesses with consciously egalitarian slant and is no fan of bureaucracy or the trappings of hierarchies. "There's no bureaucracy or hierarchy or superiority in the business. Plested says that within a few months of the firm's acquisition of Daily Freightways, which became Daily Freight under Mainfreight ownership, he came to recognise Braid's strengths. Use of the word "staff" is banned within the company - one of a range of idiosyncrasies particular to the logistics firm. Agreement with print tech giant Canon saves college thousands. Its important to be as flexible as we can to bring an offering that the customer requires during a really tough time. "[8], In June 2013, Mainfreight launched a lawsuit seeking 11 million or $18 million against Wim Bosman Group's former owners. It is totally how I believe a company should be and I love how everyone starts at the bottom. Don Braid, Group Managing Director of Mainfreight Limited, was educated at Timaru Boys High School and has over 43 years experience in freight forwarding and logistics both NewZealand and internationally. Director Profiles - Mainfreight The Biosecurity Business Pledge group has launched two new biosecurity guides. Read More . BusinessDesk has a paywall for most of its content. Its a huge level of success and theres satisfaction you get from that. [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. Having started out with two employees and one truck in 1978, the company now employs more than 7500 people in 22 countries and generated a net profit of $103m in the 2017 financial year on operating revenue of $2.33 billion.