b'CHAPTER 06GOING THEIR OWN WAY | 63replicate key IT systems meant our staff on the groundTHE GANG OF THREEand back at home literally worked through the nightAndy Kennard, Peter Lancken and Gordon Howlett on acquisition eve to finalise stocktake and have all the the Gang of Threewere known for their long master data in the system so we were ready to trade onbreakfast meetings where they drilled down into every day one, he remembers. It was stressful, but the resultaspect of the business. They were the turn-of-the-was very rewarding.century dream team. This gang made decisions and set events in motion that took Kennards Hire from a The other businesses that didnt fit within the Kennardssuccessful, but ultimately still fledgling, business, and Hire plan were hived off. Then came the task of gettingturned it into a household name across the country and the staff on board with Kennards Hires values andbeyond the Tasman.business model. Despite a bit of Kiwi resistance to the Aussie invasion (they really need to get over thatBut first, the new executives had to convince Andy to underarm bowling incident!), New Zealand grew quicklytake a step back from his hands-on role in the business with twenty-nine branches in both North and Southand give them a chance to show him what they could Islands by 2023. Growth has come from wonderfuldo for Kennards Hire. Naturally this was a nerve-racking people providing great service and having the latestventure. It had been a family business, built from the equipment. Kennards Hire has become a remarkableground up, first by Wally, then Nev and Andy, and then success story.Andy alone. It would be a tough ask to find someone who could work with the family, but also bring a fresh The genesis of that was buying a pretty rundownnew perspective to the business that would allow it to business and then adding the Kennards Hire businessgrow to its full potential.model, getting the people right, getting the equipment right, getting all the things right, Peter Lancken says.This gang made decisions and set events in motion that took Kennards Hire from a successful, but ultimately still fledgling, business, and turned it into a household name acrossthe country and beyond the Tasman.'