Bruce would be the first person to say he needed to have great leadership following him if he wanted to bring his hundred year vision to life. They have over 8500 staff in 280+ locations across 28 countries, so it was pretty cool (and humbling) for us to be able to chat to Don with some of our Business Changing clients recently. Founded in 1969 as Dunedin Customs Brokers Ltd, DCB International provides international air and sea freight services from Dunedin. Don Braid - Group Managing Director - Mainfreight NZ | ZoomInfo Look after your people and theyll look after the business. See guidance for chairs and directors. That's ambitious, even . 'Ready, fire, aim' is Mainfreight man's mantra | Stuff.co.nz JUDGES COMMENTS He has clear vision of what it will take to navigate the unforgiving roads and heavy traffic of the international freight marketplace and so far he has kept this business right on track. Early in the piece at Mainfreight, leaders are given responsibility, so the ability to take responsibility and to make decisions is pretty important. Don: With this event in front of us right now, I think cash is king, and the collection of cash. Breakfast with Don Braid, Mainfreight Ltd | IoD NZ So the weekly P&L puts them on the spot. That includes a new facility for Owens Transport in Penrose, Auckland and additional land in Nelson, Hastings, Cambridge and Wellington. How do you measure this? How does that actually work, practically? I'm pleased I didn't do anything else.". Should it change? Hi Tanya. Don has over 40 years' experience in the freight industry, including 26 with Mainfreight. [4] In 1998, Mainfreight acquired Australian freight forwarder ISS Express lines, subsequently establishing an Australian international freight business. Theres no bullshit in the numbers, they are what the business has earned. Don Braid of Mainfreight Limited presents key insights for directors about freight and supply chain patterns in the current climate. And then it was a matter of communication and staying in touch, making sure everyone was okay, making sure any questions were answered. For me its being in the business, with people and in particular with customers. Youve got to have good outlets. Don Braid, Mainfreight Ltd: Profile and Biography - Bloomberg Markets Initially wed take 10% of that profit and share it equally with everybody in the branch but as weve developed and gotten a little more sophisticated, weve applied quality stats to the numbers. He likes to surround himself with clever, energetic people who are equally as dedicated as him to meeting and exceeding the needs of Mainfreights customers. Share Your Design Ideas, New JerseysMurphy Defends $10 Billion Rainy Day Fund as States Economy Slows, What Led to Europes Deadliest Train Crash in a Decade, This Week in Crypto: Ukraine War, Marathon Digital, FTX. Those people become good leaders early in the piece they might be only leading a couple of people by the time they make branch manager status but they understand the roles of leadership within Mainfreight. Leading reputation management consultant Noke Kiroyan says it is perfectly possible although not always easy to run a business in Indonesia without resorting to corrupt behaviour. Thanks for your comments about Don Braid and Mainfreight. Biography We were lucky enough to have a really incredible chat with Mainfreight CEO Don Braid about what he has learnt as the CEO of Mainfreight. How do I gain more customers? Its having empathy and I think Im patient, determined, have belief and energy. "He's sporting and tough and makes decisions quite fast," Plested says. Rising inflation and labour shortages have added to the Covid-19 melting pot, crippling global supply chains and trade growth. We continue to be optimistic and we are bloody proud of our people who have delivered this record result.. And if you dont make a profit, theres no bonus that year. Having started out with two employees and one truck in 1978, the company now employs more than 7500 people in 22 countries and generated a net profit of $103m in the 2017 financial year on operating revenue of $2.33 billion. Im not sure well see driverless trucks in NZ for some time to come. Some people dont want any more responsibility they find their own ceiling and thats fine. They couldnt believe we trusted them to turn up when we needed them to turn up and leave when we needed them to leave. [7] This takeover was in response to the purchase of Tranz Rail by Australian transport firm Toll Holdings. Boasting a total shareholder return of 168% over three years, Mainfreight Limited has done well by shareholders. Yes, wed committed an enormous amount of capital expenditure coming into this new financial year, but we were in good shape in that the balance sheet looks pretty good. Zac: What are your thoughts on driverless trucks and how they will affect Mainfreight? Zac: Im keen to understand what do you think are common reasons why many businesses fail to reach their maximum potential? In April 2007, Mainfreight announced its intentions to sell its Pan Orient Project Logistics business and its 75% interest in Lep Australia and New Zealand to global logistics company Agility Group for A$83 million. As a Kiwi living in England and studying management currently, I have really enjoyed reading this interview. For the latest updates on face to face courses and our safety planning see ourresponse to COVID-19 page. You cant see yourself as an employer of 8500 people. Theyre all networked, but theyre all distanced so we knew we needed to communicate really well with them and have a blueprint that we know would work. The Asian business saw profits more than double to US$7m, driven by increases in market share and rate increases from both air and see freight, the firm said. When other international airlines are finding their wings clipped, this straight talking, and well regarded leader, has proved his point. Zac: As the leader of Mainfreight, what do you personally focus on to get the team going in the right direction? Another attribute is straight talking. Regrettably, registration fees cannot be refunded when cancellations are received within two working days prior to any branch event. Revenues were up $448.4m to $3.5 billion, a 14.5% increase on the prior year, with 76% of that now generated outside New Zealand. Don Braid. After receiving the 2016 Infinz Leadership Award he told staff if this is a tick in the box for the way we have done things or are trying to do, and for what were trying to create, then well take that tick. Proud of its family ties, Mainfreight also employs Braids sons, Jason and Corey. Mainfreight International was Mainfreight's first international sea and airfreight business and was started in 1984 by Bruce Plested's brother Gerald. Is Mainfreight Limited (NZSE:MFT) Overpaying Its CEO? - Yahoo! Will His AI Plans Be Any Different? Brent is a senior reporter based in Queenstown. This endeavor launched the first permanent investment into South America. In 2003 Mainfreight bought Owens Group, one of New Zealand's largest trucking firms. But they had different regulations for different countries: it was a metre between the two trucks, it was a metre and half in Belgium, and it was two meters in France. So each person can earn some more money by not just making profit, but keeping customers happy, keeping claims to a lower amount, making sure were collecting cash, making sure that were delivering freight in full and on time but the base bonus, everybody gets the same amount no matter whether youve been there for one year or for 40 years and no matter what your position is. Don Braid. In 1994 Mainfreight purchased the business, and Don went on to hold various senior management roles at Mainfreight prior to his appointment as Managing Director in 2000. Braid recalls with horror the memory of listening to a chief executive refer to her workers as "FTEs" - full-time equivalents - during a radio interview. Im always exploring those opportunities and may be experimenting in particular regions or with particular customers before implementing that across the rest of the business. What we put in place here in New Zealand became the blueprint for the organization around the world. He believes in fostering an innovative culture in the organisation and encourages top performances from his teams. Like most Kiwi business leaders, Braid is self-effacing and doesn't fancy talking to journalists about his life outside the company. With the takeover of the Owens Group in 2003 they purchased Owens International Australia. | In 2007, Mainfreight acquired Target Logistics, a United States based forwarder with 34 offices, and an extensive agent network. He has led the company in strengthening its global logistics business and ensuring an increased diversification of revenue streams across many countries, trade lanes and activities provides Mainfreight Limited has seen its earnings per share (EPS) increase by 19% a year over the past three years. Managing director Don Braid said the result was pleasing, particularly in light of supply chain congestion and ongoing lockdown disruptions in most of Mainfreight's markets. Mainfreight half year net profit lifts 79 per cent despite supply chain Not living as a question mark but instead getting on with it and making those decisions. In his results commentary, Braid said the results were pleasing in light of initial supply chain disruptions during the early part of the year, on the back of lockdowns in response to the global pandemic. So a lot is about the long game. Group Managing Director at Mainfreight NZ . Previously, Don was a Political Columnist at Calgary Herald. As an example, we know what money weve made or lost last week in every single one of those 282 branches as of about half an hour ago. Mainfreight was founded on 6 March 1978 by Bruce Plested who started the company with just $ 7,200 and a 1969 Bedford truck. Q&A with Mainfreight's Don Braid - Business Changing Don has over 40 years experience in the freight industry, including 26 with Mainfreight. Mainfreight chief executive Don Braid says New Zealand needs to slash the number of its container ports to a 'maximum' of three to avoid being side-lined by major shippers.The 18-year veteran CEO of the NZX-listed multinational logistics company told a supply chain forum in Auckland on Wednesday that container cranes sitting at most of the