Feature Article

Keith Andrews Trucks appoints new CEO

Keith Andrews Trucks Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Smith as group chief executive officer and executive director of Keith Andrews Trucks and associated business The Parts Hub.

Smith has 31 years’ sales, operations, business management and technical experience in the transport and trucking, heavy machinery and petroleum industries. He will join the company early April 2020.

Group director Kurtis Andrews said: “The board and I see Aaron as a highly skilled business leader, with directly applicable industry knowledge and experience to help a family-owned company such as ours succeed. We are very excited about his potential to move the business forward and help execute our goals.”

Keith Andrews Trucks has navigated a difficult period with the recent passing of its talismanic founder and Andrews says he looks forward to the clear and focused direction Smith will bring.

“The past 12 months have been challenging for the entire organisation and Aaron’s appointment is a large step towards normality and an even larger step towards realising Keith’s vision,” said Andrews.

“My role will revert back to CEO of Fuso New Zealand and oversight of the Keith Andrews Holdings sales and marketing functions.

In his most recent role as general manager of Gough Group’s New Zealand transport businesses, Smith oversaw operations of truck and trailer parts specialists Gough TWL and Gough Transpecs. Combined, the companies comprise 19 branches, three distribution centres and a team of approximately 200.

He says the opportunity to lead New Zealand’s largest truck retailer was too good to look past.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Keith Andrews Trucks and Daimler family,” said Smith.

“Throughout the recruitment process, I was impressed with the openness and engagement of Kurtis and the board members, which gave me great insight into the business’ culture and vision.

“I have the utmost respect for the legacy that Keith Andrews and his team have created. As part of the collective Keith Andrews and Fuso NZ operation, I look forward to building on these solid foundations to create the next phase of evolution to support our team’s, our customers’ and our supplier partners’ goals and aspirations.”