b'CHAPTER 08BUSH BASHING AND KIWISIN 2010, GORDON HOWLETT RESIGNED AS2011 put Kennards Hire in every state and territory in CHAIRMAN, MARKING THE END OF THE ERAthe country except Tasmania.OF THE GANG OF THREE. He was celebrated at a Queensland awards night, where he was greeted withOnce Kennards Hire became a household nameplacemats featuring the new CEO giving him the boot.across Australia, it set its sights on the land of the long The board paid tribute to Gordon and his predecessor,white cloudNew Zealand. Bill McEntee approached Peter Lancken, saying they were a formidable teamKennards Hire with an offer to sell his business, and and the business had flourished under their leadership.since the price was right, Kennards Hire snapped it up. The business went from strength to strength while the However, absence was brief as, at the familys request,main competitor struggled with debt, unable to update Peter Lancken took over as chairman of the board inits equipment or its service.2011. The company was looking for a steady hand to 2010sguide them through the aftermath of the GFC, and PeterThe entry into New Zealand has supported our business was seen as a reliable choice. Despite some hesitation,in growing from a national to an international player, Peter ultimately agreed to take on the role, saying hesays Jihad Farah.felt a strong connection to the company and the people within it. It was one of those things where I realisedQUEENSLAND FLOODSthat the company was very important in my life, PeteIn late 2010 and early 2011, Queensland was subjected says. Its such a great business and a great bunch ofto devastating floods, forcing the evacuation of thousands people to be with. I said yes, and Im glad I did. of people from their homes and businesses. Tom Kinross, who was running the branches in Queensland at the Kennards Hire had long since pivoted from cost savingstime, was on an acquisition trip to Tasmania when Opposite Andyto focusing on quality, making sure that the equipmenthis phone started going off with increasingly urgent Kennard at the Hirein the branches was new, clean and up for the job. Themessages. When he got wind of what was happening, Industry Association ofbusiness, with its distinctive down-to-earth logo, washe jumped on the next plane back north. Brisbane New Zealand (HIANZ)instantly recognisable in every metropolitan centre inhad taken an absolute hammering, with a couple of awards night, 2015. Australia. It had also been slowly extending into theKennards Hire branches copping it badly, he recalls. regions, with strategic acquisitions and the occasionalThe Indooroopilly branch was completely submerged. greenfield branch spreading Kennards Hire reach rightThe water had come up to the roof gutters, and most across the country. The acquisition of Top End Hire inof the equipment was ruined. Once the water had subsided, Tom and his team rolled up their sleeves and The entry into New Zealand hasset to helping clean up the community.Kennards Hire was able to improve its response time supported our business in growingwhen Queensland experienced further floods in 2022, from a national to an internationalwhich allowed them to save most of their equipment.player, Jihad Farah says.'