When Michael Chick left school in the United Kingdom, he first started work in a local steel works, but soon went on to college on a 'sandwich' course (a mixture of theory and practical work experience) and studied Electrical Engineering.

On completing the course he joined a company which specialised in helicopter auto-pilot systems. From there he moved to a company working on the first electronic typesetting equipment.

However Michael's first long-term job was in the advanced technology division of a computer magnetic recording manufacturer. He obtained some patents during this stage of his career. Michael's first management job was in an aviation company specialising in control and data communication systems for air traffic, police and banks.

In 1983, he became managing director of the subsidiary of an aviation company specialising in the design, manufacture and sale of ground to air radios. Michael undertook a management buy-out of this company in 1984 and remained as managing director until the company's sale in 1989.

Appointed as chief executive of an electronics component distribution company in 1989, he became charged with the integration of four smaller companies into a strategic force for the UK market.

Michael first joined Tait in the UK as managing director of Tait's European operation in 1991 and made it the best performing sales organisation within the group. In 1997 he moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, as the general manager of the mobile radio division, and then took up the position of managing director in June 2001.

Michael is a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and is the Christchurch branch chairman of IEE.

Married, with two sons in the United Kingdom, Michael likes travelling, camping and more recently has enjoyed flying in New Zealand.