A Tribute

After a lifetime of service to Nuplex, our Chairman steps down

Fred Holland has enjoyed a long and distinguished career with Nuplex Industries Limited. He now retires as Chairman with the respect and admiration of the Board and staff alike.

Nuplex, and its forerunner Revertex Industries (NZ) Limited together with Revertex UK, a former major shareholder, have been the focus of Fred’s working life for more than 50 years, 43 of those spent in New Zealand.

An Englishman, Fred emigrated in the mid-sixties, having come to New Zealand in 1962 to resolve technical issues with the first resin plant after the company licensed the necessary technology from Revertex UK. Fred served in general management of the resins business for 15 years from 1966 including a period leading the export focussed Titan Chemicals subsidiary. In 1981 he was appointed Managing Director, a position he held until the year 2000. He was also appointed Chairman of the Board in 1996.

Under Fred’s stewardship, Nuplex has experienced strong and sustained growth, both organic and through strategic acquisition of competitor businesses.

Long-serving Board member Bryan Kensington recalls what he regards as a “pivotal” event in the history of the company. “At the time Australian Chemical Holdings, ACH, was a major competitor and Fred was concerned the two operations would damage one another irreparably.”

“When ACH frustrated an amalgamation proposal, Fred advocated a Nuplex takeover. It was ambitious as at the time ACH was the larger entity. Fred persuaded the Board it was the best solution,” Bryan comments, “and he was absolutely right - we rapidly established a strong position in Australia, and we’ve never looked back since.”

“Under Fred’s leadership, Nuplex’s core values have remained consistent and strong. We are a totally customer-focussed business,” says John Hirst, Group Managing Director. “We listen and we are responsive, and that’s a big part of our success and very much a part of Fred’s legacy.”

Fred is held in high regard by staff at all levels of the company. “Whenever we tour a plant, Fred is warmly received and people are genuinely pleased to see and talk with him, and that is because Fred has treated them with respect throughout his working life.”

Says John, “Fred is a gentleman, well educated, widely read, a golfer, an exceptional runner and soccer coach of longstanding too. He retires with the gratitude and respect of the Nuplex family and he can reflect with satisfaction on a job very well done.”