b'KENNARDS HIRE Since 1948TAKING HIRE HIGHER | 72LETTING GO WHILE HOLDING ONIf the business were to grow to the next level, Andyregularly. The CEO and chairman would listen and take would have to let go of some of the day-to-day control.notes as Andy poured out the things that he dreamt up This was something he could only do if he had greator the processes outlined in the latest book he had read. people to hand over the reins to. And in Gordon andTheyd listen seriously, and then discuss whether his Peter, he had it.ideas should or shouldnt be implemented, or howit would fit in to the big picture. Still, having been bitten before, Andy was initially reluctant to relinquish control completely, andThere were really wonderful positive connections sometimes his ideas were at odds with the seasonedbetween them, Kirsty Kovacs says. executives. There was no denying that Andy had built up a phenomenal business without professionalThey werent always all on the same page, though. management. But Pete and Gordon convinced him thatPeter is very gung-ho for growth and Andy loves real it would be a mistake to bring people in to do a job andestate, Gordon explains. So if Peter wanted a branch then go ferreting around the edges trying to do thatin a particular place, he would take Andy around and job for them. There needed to be a total ban on phrasestheyd pick the best site in that suburb. I used to argue like Weve always done it that way or Why are youthat they could have a site around the corner for half changing that? And Andy had to trust in the people hethe price. But both Andy and Peter have a high regard had chosen. for property position, and once we get a good site, Andy wont let it go.Andys a tinkerer, explains Pete with an air of fond exasperation. Thats the privilege you have whenAndy also maintained the fiscal conservatism that he and youre the owner, right? You can do what you damnNev had believed in, insisting that debt should never be well like. But he loves to fiddle around with things.greater than one years cash flow, so that if the business Sometimes those things werent quite aligned with theran into trouble, the debt could be paid down. But by trajectory of the company or the vision the board hadand large, the three of us worked very well together and for the business. One way of dealing with that was forit was quite an amusing time, Gordon says.Andy, Pete and Gordon to meet for coffee or breakfast By and large, the three of us worked very well together and it was quite an amusing time.'