One-time US marine and forest fire engine driver Tom Sturgess, 67, heads a collection of companies he’s bought and merged since he and wife Heather immigrated to New Zealand in 1996.
The couple, who live between Nelson, Golden Bay and Santa Barbara, California, are strong supporters of community activities such as the Suter Art Gallery, Nelson College for Boys, Golden Bay Community Trust, Women's Refuge and the University of California Arts & Lectures.
This year Mr Sturgess was also appointed to the board of the Hospice of Santa Barbara.
Before immigrating to New Zealand in 1996, Sturgess was involved with a number of companies including United Stationers Inc, Redman Industries Inc, RBP Holdings Inc, Wingate Partners of Dallas, Swift Independent Corp and Friona Industries.
In New Zealand he has built up or bought four groups of companies.
His Lone Star Farms is a sheep and beef cattle farming enterprise consisting of six properties – one in the North Island and five in the South Island, covering 15,000ha.
One of them – Puponga Farm Park – has a grazing licence with the Department of Conservation for the 890ha property, which is an ecologically sensitive site.
Despite being the smallest farm in the Lone Star Farm group, Puponga is also one of the longest. Arcing 12km across the top of the South Island, the grazing land is punctuated by reserved areas and wetlands fenced from farming operations.
Elsewhere, Sturgess was a key player in a major consolidation of the printing industry, acquiring – in conjunction with Mercury Capital – Blue Star and Geon when they collapsed in 2013.
He is a director of Mercury Capital, along with fellow Rich Lister Craig Heatley, well-known company director and investor Geoff Ricketts and former Goldman Sachs NZ executive Clark Perkins.
Sturgess’ Tiri Group runs a collection of independent manufacturing and distribution businesses.
Last September Tiri sold lawnmower company Masport to a German company and last month Tiri bought office products company Winc New Zealand, formerly known as Staples.
Sturgess also chairs label manufacturing group Hexagon Holdings, which he is a shareholder in via his own holding company and via Mercury.
The Hexagon group employs more than 500 staff in 10 production facilities across Australia and New Zealand.
There has been speculation Mercury Capital and Sturgess are looking to sell Hexagon, said to be worth up to $A400m.
Away from business, Tom and Heather Sturgess built up a classic motorbikes collection to 300 bikes and associated art ranging from a 1902 Peugeot motorcycle to a 21st-century Simms Corbin Custom, as well as brands such as Harley-Davidson, Indian, Matchless, Rudge, Schwinn and Zundapp.
However, they closed their motorbike museum two years ago, with Sturgess saying since undergoing major cancer surgery he was "reorganising his priorities and goals.”
They sold the collection for an unknown sum to Rich Listers Jocelyn and Scott O'Donnell, who developed Bill Richardson Transport World and opened a second Invercargill museum to display the bikes.