Chairman to Retire from the Board of Whitestone Contracting Limited

Council announced today that Mr Donald Taylor is to retire as the Chairman of Council-owned company Whitestone Contracting Limited at the end of June.

Mr Taylor’s retirement comes after 17 years service to the board of Whitestone. He was appointed when the company was formed in 1991, and has been in the Chair since that time.

Over the time Mr Taylor has been Chairman, the company has experienced significant changes and growth. From a staff of 30 and annual turnover of around $3million in 1991, the company now employs 160 staff and has an annual turnover of close to $20million.

The growth of the company has resulted from a number of initiatives, which have included winning many large maintenance and construction contracts, and the modernization of the company’s fleet to increase profitability. The purchase of Mackenzie Contracting Ltd from Mackenzie District Council in 1998, and Contract Cultivation in 2006, also contributed to this growth and allowed the company to further expand their operations into Dunedin, Mackenzie and South Canterbury areas.

Mayor Alex Familton expressed Council’s gratitude for Mr Taylor’s lengthy and valuable service to the Board.

“We are extremely grateful for the many years of service Mr Taylor has given to the board of Whitestone Contracting. His commitment and contribution as Chair of the board has been a crucial factor in the company’s success”

Council resolved to appoint Mr Michael de Buyzer as a director of Whitestone Contracting at its meeting last week and the Board will consider its leadership at their next meeting.

Mr de Buyzer has lived and worked in the district for more than twenty years. As a partner of local law firm Berry and Co., he brings to the board of Whitestone Contracting considerable business and commercial expertise, along with experience as a company director.

In addition to making a new appointment to Whitestone Contracting at its meeting, Council also considered its trusteeship appointments to Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust. It made a decision to retain the current trustees - Marcus Brown, Michael Bolstridge and Alex Familton - for a further term.