Simon, a dynamic and visionary leader in the electrical industry, boasts a remarkable journey marked by relentless dedication and unparalleled achievements. With a childhood spent navigating through 10 schools across regional and metropolitan Victoria, Simon developed resilience and adaptability from an early age.
Embarking on a career path in electrical engineering, Simon completed an electrical fitter apprenticeship with Thycon, a renowned provider of Power Quality Conversion products. This foundational experience laid the groundwork for Simon's ascent in the industry.
Transitioning into a sales role with GEC, Simon swiftly emerged as a driving force, spearheading the company's sales performance and customer acquisitions. Notably, Simon led GEC to unparalleled success, establishing it as a benchmark for quality electrical products within the industry.
Eager to expand horizons and embrace leadership responsibilities, Simon ventured into management with HPM Industries. Tasked with overseeing a region of electrical wholesale customers and contractors, Simon once again excelled, steering the company to unprecedented heights in sales performance despite operating in a fiercely competitive market.
In a pivotal move that underscored Simon's strategic acumen, he joined CNW Electrical Wholesale and spearheaded the opening of the company's inaugural branch in Western Australia. Within a remarkably short span, the branch not only achieved profitability in its first year but also ascended to become one of the top three most profitable branches nationwide within three years.
Recognising Simon's exceptional leadership capabilities and track record of success, CNW appointed him as the General Manager for Western Australia, South Australia, and Northern Territory in 2010. In this role, Simon orchestrated a monumental growth trajectory, elevating the business's operating income from $60,000,000 to an impressive $116,000,000 within five years.
In a crowning achievement reflective of Simon's unparalleled leadership prowess, he ascended to the position of CEO of CNW in 2015. Under Simon's visionary stewardship, the company experienced unprecedented expansion, with the operating income soaring from $362,000,000 in 2015 to an astounding $655,000,000 by the end of the financial year 2022/23 whilst increasing the EBIT by 2% to 6.4%.
The remarkable growth and sustained success achieved under Simon's leadership can be attributed to a multifaceted approach encompassing enhanced standards, fortified organisational structures, comprehensive training and development initiatives, centralised control mechanisms, technological innovations to foster customer connectivity, strategic market sector specialisation, and the cultivation of a vibrant organisational culture.
In addition to his executive roles, Simon has been a current sitting board member for the Gemcell Electrical Group since 2016 and an executive board member of IMELCO since 2017. Gemcell is an electrical buying group that supports independent electrical wholesalers from Australia and New Zealand. IMELCO is the largest cooperation of independent electrical wholesalers on the globe.
Simon is a graduate from the University of Western Australia. His journey exemplifies the transformative power of visionary leadership, strategic foresight, and unwavering commitment to excellence, making them an undisputed luminary in the realm of electrical industry leadership.
Key Achievements
Created a number of training programs, including:
Organisational Management
Strategic Visioning
Operational Efficiency
Customer Focus
Executive Leadership
Change Management
Forecasting & Budgeting
Human Resources
Joint Ventures