The Warehouse founder takes a year off
The Warehouse Group’s founder, Sir Stephen Tindall, is taking a year off to focus on Team New Zealand’s defence of the next America’s Cup.
Tindall wants to concentrate on his chairmanship of Team New Zealand and venture capital work with his company K1W1.
Tindall said he wanted to focus on securing the necessary infrastructure in Auckland to host the America’s Cup, as well as opportunities for his investment firm K1W1, and the ongoing work of The Tindall Foundation.
His leave of absence took effect yesterday and would run until October 2018.
K1W1 recently helped to invest $1 million in home services company Goodnest, which is backed by Tindall and Trade Me founder Sam Morgan.
Tindall’s son Robbie Tindall, who has acted as his father’s alternate director on The Warehouse Group board, will stand in while Tindall is on leave.
Tindall said it was the first period of long leave he had taken from the business since he opened the doors of The Warehouse in Wairau Rd on Auckland’s North Shore in 1982.
‘‘My confidence in [The Warehouse’s] leadership and our strategy for the next 12 months and beyond makes it possible for me to take a leave of absence,’’ he said.
The Warehouse Group chairwoman Joan Withers said the board wished Tindall well and was pleased Robbie Tindall had agreed to continue to act as his alternate.