New Managing Director for Tait Electronics Limited

Tait Electronics Limited today named Frank Owen as its new Managing Director to replace Michael Chick when he retires from the company in 2009.

Mr Owen will join Tait in March from his current position as Chief Executive Officer of electronic manufacturing services company, GPC Electronics New Zealand Ltd.

Mr Owen has had a long involvement in the Canterbury technology sector. Through his connection to the Canterbury Manufacturers and Exporters Association (he is currently junior vice-president), Mr Owen came to know Tait founder, Sir Angus.

“It is a privilege to join Tait, which is an outstanding example of a New Zealand company continuing to build a sustainable global business while maintaining a strong presence in the community. Canterbury’s technology sector has a vibrancy that has been built up by years of research and creativity, and Tait has played a leading role in this,” Mr Owen says.

“What impresses me about the company is the compassion and respect the staff have for one another, which is a real benefit to the company’s customers and partners. Tait has been built up by an iconic leader and staff that are passionate about seeing it succeed on the global arena,” Mr Owen concludes.

Mr Owen has worked as an electronics engineer for Philips in the UK, France, Holland and Austria before moving to the United States initially with Raychem and then Tyco. At Tyco he was responsible for the Power Components Divisions with over 4,400 staff worldwide.

Mr Owen has a BSc First Class in Electronic Engineering from the University of London and an MBA from IMD International in Switzerland. He is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, a Radio Amateur Licence Holder and a Director of the Canterbury Development Corporation.

Tait Electronics Limited Chairman Peter van Rij says: “Tait will benefit from Frank’s extensive strategic and operational leadership of electronics and telecommunications companies in the USA and New Zealand.

“From the outside it will be business as usual. Company founder Sir Angus Tait planned well ahead of his death last year to ensure that customers, suppliers, stakeholders and staff could benefit from long-term stability by establishing the company as a trust, similar to German company Bosch.

“The board is thankful to Michael for the way he has grown the company’s business, and for his determination to ensure Angus’s vision will be carried on through a new era. For this reason we have asked Michael to remain as a Director on the Tait Board,” Mr van Rij concludes.

Mr Chick has spent 17 years at Tait Electronics, including seven years based in Christchurch as the Group’s Managing Director. He has been a Director of Tait since 2001.

“The timing could not be better for me to make this move. It was always my intention to leave Tait in a stronger position than when I took up the role of Managing Director,” Mr Chick says.

“I am very proud of the fact that this year Tait has experienced very strong sales, orders and earnings growth, resulting from our focus in public safety, utilities and transport sectors. Continued expansion in Europe and North America, and our more recent successes in Brazil, has added to the long-term commitment Tait has had to New Zealand customers for 40 years.”

“Internally, we have a strong strategic framework in place that will guide Tait’s direction in future years. I am very pleased with the appointment of Frank Owen, who is not only knowledgeable in the field of radio communications, but also appreciates the legacy Tait has in New Zealand,” Mr Chick concludes.

Frank Owen will be based in Christchurch, at the global headquarters of Tait Radio Communications.