Introduction

Todd Smith looks after the lower South Island of New Zealand in a business development role, working with Tier 1 customers across Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill. He works closely with clients to develop robust solutions and is often involved in the planning phase of major projects long before equipment arrives onsite, through to when the job is complete. From the new Dunedin Hospital, one of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure projects at an estimated $2 billion, to heritage builds and everything in between, Todd covers a huge variety of terrain, weather and equipment. “It keeps it interesting,” he says. “Every day’s different. You don’t get bored.”

Career Journey

Todd’s started at Kennards Hire in a casual role at the Bexley branch 16 years ago, launching a diverse career that has since spanned two countries. Todd spent 10 years at Bexley, advancing to the role of Branch Manager, before moving to Dunedin to open a greenfield site in a region where almost no one knew the Kennards Hire name. He built the Dunedin branch into a successful operation before eventually stepping into a business development role.

Areas of Expertise

Todd’s expertise spans business development and solution-based hire for Tier 1 customers, incorporating project planning from inception through to site close-out, and a broad range of hire equipment across the lower South Island. He’s particularly passionate about water management and water treatment, including innovative new technology he’s helped introduce to the New Zealand market. The team brought specialist water treatment equipment into the country for the Dunedin Hospital, including technology that automatically doses chemicals, tracks water quality and provides 24/7 live reporting.

“Some of the water we receive into these treatment tanks can be clearer than anything else going down the storm water,” Todd explains.

Customer Impact

Todd’s role has evolved alongside the business, shifting from reactive hires to a solution-based approach where he’s involved long before a project starts.

“We’re there before the project even starts, in the planning phases with what we can offer and what we can save the project,” he says.

The new Dunedin Hospital, one of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure projects at $2 billion is a clear example of this solutions-based approach. Kennards Hire has been involved for three years, won the tender four times as contractors changed, and is now the preferred supplier as the only hire company onsite.

“Customers really appreciate that you can come in and talk to them about a piece of equipment and actually know about it,” Todd says.

Personal Insights

Todd is motivated by both the success of the company and his own, and with three young kids growing up in New Zealand, family is always front of mind. He describes the Kennards culture as unmatched and rooted in the One Family value.

“Everyone going home safe each day is our number one priority, and we care for our mates and treat each other like family,” he says. “The culture embeds its people through and through. You never feel like you’re talking up, you’re always talking to a colleague.”

Outside of work, Todd’s time is all about his kids. He used to fish and has bucket-list spots in NZ he’d love to reach as the kids get older, but for now he’s a self-described “dance dad” taking his two girls to ballet and watching from the sidelines.

Quote

Todd attributes his guiding philosophy to a mate who after working across different areas of the business, now holds a senior position at Kennards Hire: “There’s no direct pathway to get to where you want to go. You step off the path sometimes but know that you’re still going in the right direction.”

Having stepped off his own operations path into business development, Todd has taken these words to heart.

“If you’d asked me five years ago whether I’d be in a sales role, I’d have said no,” he says. “But you’ve got to stay open-minded, go with the flow and don’t look back.”