HW Richardson Ltd appoints Brent Esler as CEO

The Managing Director of one of New Zealand’s largest privately owned transport businesses, HW Richardson Ltd, has now handed the leadership of the business to the new Chief Executive Officer, Brent Esler.

Scott O’Donnell stepped into the Managing Director role early in 2006 in the wake of the significant upheaval resulting from the death of the Southland-based company’s founder, Bill Richardson, Mr O’Donnell’s father-in-law.

Chairman Rex Williams said: “Scott had driven the business to new heights, more than doubling the size of the business in his 10 year tenure, and is stepping aside after delivering another record year for the group in 2015.

“Scott always stated his intention was to be in the role for ten years. He reaffirmed this early in 2015 and this enabled the board to run an extensive search and recruitment process for a successor and then manage a smooth transition to the incoming CEO during 2015. Brent Esler was appointed to the role at the beginning of September and he has been working alongside Scott since that time.”

Mr O’Donnell said he was proud of what the group had achieved in his time at the top and now felt satisfied in passing the reins to Brent for the next phase of the group’s development.

“Brent has a proven record as CEO in a large diverse business, with strong connections to the rural market, as well as fuel and oil distribution, through his time as CEO of CRT and then Farmlands. He led the merger of those two businesses in 2013 forming a $2.5 billion organisation.”

Mr O’Donnell said he would continue to serve as a director of the group, along with his wife Jocelyn, and look after the significant property assets of the group as well as other activities outside of the core business of the HWR group. HWR retains a strong focus on its core activities, which are centred on transport activities.

Invercargill-based HW Richardson is one of New Zealand’s largest privately owned transport businesses. Activities include rural transport, fuel and oil distribution, ready mix concrete, roading and contracting, and waste management.

Mr Esler said: “I feel privileged to be leading HW Richardson Ltd as not only is it a large and diverse business, but more particularly, because of its reputation as a great family owned business with strong values and a great heritage.

“Scott took Bill Richardson’s business to a new level in his ten years. To be following in these footsteps is a great challenge for me. We have a great team, a great fleet and a lot of opportunity ahead.”