TGH boss business focused, socially driven
Chris Joblin works for a higher purpose.
The new chief executive at Tainui Group Holdings (TGH), the commercial arm of WaikatoTainui, thrives on the challenge of building an economic base whose function was not wholly financial.
Tasked with the role of protecting and growing the tribe’s asset base for their 68,000 beneficiaries, TGH’s focus was on social, environmental and cultural bottom lines as well as the financial.
‘‘We are here to help support the aspirations for 68,000 people,’’ said Joblin.
‘‘We play a small role in that, in safeguarding those commercial assets and where we can contribute, we do.’’
Health programmes, financial literacy, marae insurance schemes, education grants and programmes, te reo revitalisation strategies, environmental management were just some of the initiatives on TGH’s ticket.
‘‘It makes a difference but that’s what makes most people want to be here.
‘‘Everyone within TGH knows they are working for a higher purpose and that’s really exciting and quite fulfilling as well.’’
Raised in Gisborne, Joblin set out for Waikato University in 1991 as a fresh-faced 17-year old with finances in his sights.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and set to work on his career at the Gisborne District Council before he and wife Colleen Joblin headed to the UK.
While in the UK, Joblin worked for Pendragon PLC, one of the largest car retailers in the UK with more than 360 dealerships across the UK, Europe and North America, selling brands like Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover.
‘‘As a young Kiwi guy, it was a wonderful opportunity because I got to travel around to most of those locations, so it was great.’’
A chartered accountant by trade, most of his career has been in commercially focussed roles, running businesses and making them successful.
‘‘It just sort of happened as your career developed,’’ he said. ‘‘I got a good taste and opportunities when I was in the UK and I spent a lot of time working with distressed and developing businesses and I really enjoyed it.
‘‘You intimately see the results of the things you do.
‘‘As a business turns around and flourishes, you get to see that before your eyes, so it’s immensely rewarding.’’
The typical Kiwi overseas experience came secondary in Joblin’s mind. His sojourn, half a world away, was disciplined.
‘‘I wouldn’t say it was typical,’’ he said.
‘‘It was more focussed. I worked for the same company the whole time I was there for 5 years. So whilst we travelled a lot, I was in full-time employment the whole time.’’
The couple returned to New Zealand during the summer of 2002-2003 and Joblin set about applying his wealth of business knowledge in the Waikato as an executive at meat processors Affco Holdings before a five year stint as TGH’s chief financial officer. They live in Hamilton and have two children Danielle, 11, and Thomas, 9.
‘‘I decided I wanted to do some- thing different and I saw there was a huge opportunity here in the things TGH was doing.’’
The Base retail development which opened in 2010 and the ‘‘kernels of Ruakura’’ – the inland port project in east Hamilton – were major attractions.
‘‘I see that iwi have a huge role to play in business so I saw the opportunity and I thought it would be a great place to come and work.’’
His promotion to the top job in August 2015 has come at a good time.
‘‘We’re coming into some really exciting stuff and I want to be part of it and lead it,’’ he said.
But for Joblin, leading a team was more about marching with the troops than barking from boardroom.
Waikato-Tainui tribal governance, iwi administrators, marae representatives, the TGH board and staff as well as Waikato-Tainui descendants are all part of the same team.
‘‘This is a team of people here. It’s not about me. I’m just one person in a broader team of people that deliver what TGH does and that team culture is really important,’’ he said.