Introduction

Nigel Annear is an Area Manager looking after eight branches across Kennards Hire’s specialist businesses in New Zealand. His area spans concrete care, lift and shift, pumps and water management, power, traffic, Kennards Major Projects and transport, alongside three general branches. Nigel is the “meat in the sandwich”, connecting specialist products, branch managers and customers, with a focus on planning, new products and making sure the right equipment is in the right place. He starts his day early and is out the door at 5.30am for a 6.30am start, knowing that no two days will be the same.

Career Journey

Nigel began his Kennards Hire career in Australia as a Serviceperson Driver, an entry level role where around 90% of Kennards people begin. “Kennards Hire allows you to make something of yourself,” he says.

From there, over the next four years, Nigel worked his way up to Branch Manager, then on to Area Manager. Along the way Kennards Hire supported him through management courses and qualification certificates, backing his progress every step of the way. “At Kennards, persistence and hard work is rewarded,” he says. “Attitude and effort will get you progressing quickly.”

A memorable part of Nigel’s career has been helping establish new branches, from Browns Plains in Queensland to supporting acquisitions and branch openings across New Zealand. Bringing an acquisition into the Kennards Hire network usually culminates in a 48-hour marathon weekend. Nigel believes the company’s four values—One Family, Fair Dinkum, Every Customer a Raving Fan and Taking Hire Higher—guide decisions at every level of the business. As he explains, being fair dinkum means, “If we say we’ll do something, we’ll do it, and we lead by example.”

Areas of Expertise

Nigel’s experience covers specialist equipment hire across concrete, lift and shift, pumps and water management, power, traffic and transport. He has a strong interest in equipment and takes a practical approach to assessing whether new product is reliable, fit for purpose and suitable for the demands placed on it by customers and branches. For Nigel, the initial purchase price is only one part of the decision. Product, parts availability, after-market service and access to ongoing maintenance are equally important, as these factors help keep equipment working and reduce disruption for customers and branch teams. His focus is on making considered equipment choices that are well supported, dependable in the field and capable of delivering consistent value over time. This reflects Taking Hire Higher by steadily improving the range and ensuring branches have equipment they can confidently stand behind.

Customer Impact

For Nigel, what sets Kennards Hire apart is its people and the way they support customers and each other. He believes good service comes from team members taking pride in their work, keeping safety front of mind and making the effort to understand what each customer needs. That care is reflected in the respect shown across the business and in the practical support provided every day. As Nigel puts it, “We have staff that care about the customer, the business and safety. That’s the secret sauce. Because we care for our staff, our staff show that care and respect to our customers.”

Personal Insights

Nigel is motivated by seeing people grow in the business, often in ways they never expected. “Seeing people come through the business and progress and enhance their personal lives. That’s what motivates me,” he says. He describes the Kennards Hire culture as close-knit, with people who are genuinely there to help each other. “It has a great culture, people are legitimately there to help each other,” he says. “The values say it all, with One Family meaning we have each other’s back”.

His advice to anyone starting out in the industry is to be patient. It’s a message he received years ago from a senior leader after winning Branch of the Year: “Be patient — it will come. You will get to where you need to get to.”

Quote

Nigel’s guiding motto comes from his first Kennards Hire Area Manager in Queensland: “If you are any good, you will work out.” It’s a line he uses every day with suppliers and staff alike, as a reminder that quality and effort speak for themselves. It’s a philosophy built on patience and letting results do the talking.