Introduction

Sam Townsend is the Category Sales Manager for Earthmoving and Compaction at Kennards Hire, based at the Tomago branch in the Hunter region. He oversees Business Development Managers across Sydney, Melbourne, the Hunter Valley and Brisbane, bringing specialist expertise in earthmoving and compaction equipment and a passion for building long-term customer relationships. Sam joined Kennards Hire in March 2026 through the acquisition of Solutions Plant Hire (SPH).

Career Journey

Sam started his career in the automotive industry, spending his first 12 years in sales management at a large Newcastle car dealership. That foundation gave him a strong understanding of vehicle and equipment mechanics, transport logistics and customer service, which he has carried throughout his career.

After a stint with a local skip bin company, he moved into equipment hire. He joined SPH in 2018, progressing to National Sales Manager. When Kennards Hire acquired SPH, Sam joined Kennards Hire as the Category Sales Manager specialising in earthmoving and compaction equipment.

Working from the same SPH depot in Tomago, Sam says, “The transition has been great, and the SPH range of larger earthmoving equipment is the perfect complement to Kennards Hire’s existing equipment range.”

Areas of Expertise

Sam’s expertise spans earthmoving and compaction equipment of all sizes, from 800kg mini excavators to 30-tonne machines, loaders, skid steers, trenchers, rollers and compactors. He has strong experience matching equipment to project requirements and coordinating logistics for urgent and complex works.

Sam is most enthusiastic about excavators because of the wide range of tasks they can perform when paired with the right attachments. From an 800kg mini excavator working in a tight urban environment to a 30-tonne machine on a major civil project, he enjoys their ability to make a significant difference for customers.

Standout Projects

Sam strives to maintain the highest level of service across every project, from high-profile works such as Newcastle’s Inner-City Bypass to the daily hire of excavators for smaller site jobs.

Confident in the team’s ability to solve any challenge, he recalls a standout moment when a customer called at around 6pm to report hundreds of black, baseball-sized balls of waste material washing up on beaches in southern Sydney. Although nobody initially knew what the material was, Sam quickly organised four excavators and a skid steer to arrive on site by 6am the following morning and begin the clean-up.

Sam says the team’s resources, expertise and ability to adapt mean customers can trust them to develop a solution and deliver what is required.

Customer-first Culture

Sam says the culture since the acquisition could not have been better, with the SPH team joining Kennards Hire together.

“You can contact anyone in the company, and people reached out from across the business to welcome us into the family,” he says.

He values Kennards Hire’s genuine care for customers.

“We want to help with the project, but we also want to build a long-term relationship. When a customer needs new equipment, site changes or servicing, knowing each customer means it’s done just right.”

The Person Behind the Pro

Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time on the golf course and at the beach in Nelson Bay, where he takes part in Nippers and board riding with his son.

His love of coastal life goes back many years. In his early twenties, he spent a year travelling solo through America and Europe, including a month on Mexico’s coast. While there, he stumbled across a beachside hotel owned by someone from his hometown of Newcastle, with six other Novocastrians already staying there. The unexpected hometown company reinforced his love of life on the Hunter coast.

“Care about what you do.” Sam says that when you care about your customers and the service you provide, everything else falls into place.

Sam’s personal motto is, “Do something every day that scares you and you will realise it is not that bad.” He applies this approach to difficult conversations and new challenges, helping him achieve better results.