From the very beginning, Harvey has led the strategic direction of Carus, growing the business into the flourishing, nationwide company it is today. His genuine commitment to our core values and his heart for doing what’s right have been guiding lights through the years as he’s worked to develop the Carus team. Also known as chief problem solver and troubleshooter, Harvey is always looking to be the best and deliver the best – to clients and to our people.
Leadership team
With a knack for unravelling issues and crafting solutions, Glen is the one behind the scenes making sure the business is on track and everyone has what they need for the journey. He keeps a close eye on the business’ financial well-being and guides our budgeting and reporting, while also taking charge of our IT. He’s an invaluable part of the team, not only helping us grow as a business, but also imparting his knowledge to the rest of the team and empowering them to grow their own careers.
From a background in the food and beverage industry, Luke brings plenty of leadership, sales and management experience to the Carus team. His main goal within the team is to develop a high-performing company culture and remove any obstacles getting in the way of great outcomes. A naturally curious problem solver and highly strategic thinker, Luke is on a mission to take Carus to the next level.
With over 16 years of experience in the painting and property maintenance industry, Richard has valuable in-depth knowledge of best industry practices. He puts this knowledge to use daily as our National Business Development Manager, working with large-scale property managers to develop long-term painting and maintenance plans for their property portfolios. Richard especially enjoys the challenge of unique or historic properties and is proud to have secured the contract for the Old Government Buildings in Wellington.
Sam is highly experienced in operational and business development management with over 15 years in various roles across New Zealand. As our Northern Regional Manager, he manages our four North Island branches, supporting a team of over 100 staff and contractors. His commitment to honesty and transparency is clear in the genuine way he builds relationships and develops his team’s skills and capabilities. He’s proud to create a positive working environment for his people and set up a structure of success for them to continue to deliver great results for our clients.
As our Executive Assistant, Marlene supports the senior management team and facilitates the day-to-day running of the business. Quick, efficient, and an exceptional multi-tasker are just a few of the ways we describe Marlene. With over 20 years of experience in office management, she is no stranger to the role and her ability to effectively support the team is highly appreciated.
From his early days at one of the oldest painting and decorating companies in the UK, Tommy has built up an impressive track record of growing businesses, developing relationships, and delivering high-quality work in the painting industry. In his role as Southern Regional Manager, Tommy manages the majority of our South Island work, with a special focus on planning and pricing large commercial contracts and developing the teams he oversees. He’s a true people person and loves a challenge – a perfect combination for the role.
Support office
Richard first learned how to spray paint and hang wallpaper from his father, setting him up to take over the family business in the 1990s. He eventually founded Carus alongside his own sons and has been key in developing the company into what it is today. As Director, Richard is now primarily responsible for upholding the company vision and core values as we grow, but that doesn’t stop him from lending his years of experience to estimating and planning as needed.
Pete, as he is known to most people has spent years as a body double for Hugh Jackman… okay, that might be stretching it a little, but seriously though, even an Aussie in Australia once asked him for his signature! Starting out his career as salesperson and display artist, he soon joined his father and brother in the family painting business, learning his trade at the coal face, and progressing through the ranks to where he is today. Now with 30 years of industry experience in the bank, but never losing the attention detail that he has always prided himself on, Pete is an incredible asset to the Team at Carus. Outside of work you are most likely to find Pete with his family, and ideally, he’ll be doing that while out and about enjoying the stunning scenery New Zealand has to offer. One last thing, Pete is quiet about it, but ask him about the ‘other’ painting that he enjoys and if you are lucky enough, he might share with you a little of his passion for painting beautiful New Zealand landscapes – the kind most would be proud to hang on their wall.
She might be last in the alphabet but Wendy’s top of the list in our accounting books – she’s got the Dean’s Award from her studies at Canterbury University to prove it. Much like the Fisher lads, Wendy is following in her family’s footsteps. Her mum used to take Wendy into the office as a little kid, and Wendy has loved the clever challenges of billing and balancing ever since. When she’s not happily buried in numbers, Wendy’s often playing with Lego – she’s a volunteer at Imagination Station, a Lego play station at her local library. Otherwise, she’s outside enjoying the gorgeous nature that brought her to New Zealand.
If positivity was a middle name, we’d be paying Melissa Tui May to change hers by deed poll… (actually can someone call and check on whether we can legally do that?) Seriously though, with an attitude that is only matched by her incredible work ethic and ability to organise the un-organisable, Carus is quite simply blessed to have Mel keeping everything and everyone in our office in line. Not that these are the only strings to her bow. Equally as happy out on the water as behind her desk, she lists meeting Gavin McLeod (AKA Captain Stubing from The Loveboat) as a highlight of her former career in the travel industry – and given how much time she now spends arranging accommodation for our teams that travel around the country, it’s certainly come in handy on more than one occasion. The living embodiment of Carus Core Value Caring for Others and Their Property, with Mel running our office, the flow on effect is that everyone comes to work happy to be part of her team.
Hailing from a family of painters, it was only natural that Roxie jumped in on the trade. As our Office Administrator, Roxie thrives off being able to solve problems and help the team out. As a social sort, she puts her personable skills to work with customers and the team through the week, and then with her friends through the weekend. Anything adrenaline rush inducing is right up Roxie’s ally; on her bucket list she has things from bungee jumping to sky diving – just as long as no spiders are near.
Living life by “learning something new every day”, makes more sense for John than for many of the rest of us at Carus, having emigrated with his beautiful whanau from Columbia to take up residence in Christchurch. A background as a tax consultant in his homeland means he can help keep our books seamlessly in order – and thankfully for us, he does so with one of the warmest smiles on the planet a permanent fixture on his face. With 2 kids to keep him busy, life at home very much revolves around family, but when he can squeeze it in, you’ll find John, like many other from that football-mad part of the world, teaching us kiwis a thing or two about the beautiful game.
Since 2014, Braden has been an integral part of the team. Now in the role of Health and Safety Coordinator, he’s responsible for promoting a culture of safety at Carus and creating a safe and compliant work environment. Braden’s background as a project manager has given him a well-rounded view of how the business works on all levels and he’s become a go-to person for all things health and safety related.
With over 30 years of experience in the paint industry, Jeff has practically bathed in more colors than a chameleon at a disco party. Having honed his craft at renowned paint empires such as Resene, Dulux, and Cotec, Jeff didn’t just climb the corporate ladder – he painted it in vibrant hues! When he’s not turning job estimations into works of fiscal art, you can find Jeff on the green, mastering the fine art of lawn bowls. Rumor has it that he once painted a perfect bulls-eye on the grass, but he’s sworn it was just a happy accident. As a man of many aquatic talents, Jeff’s free time is divided between painting the town and the open water. Fishing is not just a hobby for him; it’s a way of life. His biggest fear? Falling out of his kayak with a shark on the line – a fear only rivaled by the thought of running out of his favorite paint color mid-project. Jeff lives by the mantra “Give it a go,” and whether he’s estimating a job or trying a new fishing technique, he tackles life with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store – or should we say, a paint store? So, buckle up, because with Jeff on board, our estimating game just got a lot more colorful – literally!