New Zealander Becomes Global Removal Chief

New Zealander Becomes Global Removal Chief

October 16, 2013

A New Zealander has been appointed to the prestigious position of President of the FIDI Global Alliance.

The Alliance, whose head office is based in Belgium, is the global body that comprises over 600 independent international removal companies in 100 countries around the world.

Mr Errol Gardiner, Managing Director of New Zealand Van Lines, was appointed to the top role for a two year term earlier this year in Athens, Greece.

Errol is able to administer the activities and issues of the global affiliates with staff numbering in the millions, from his Lower Hutt office through weekly calls to FIDI’s head office, monthly tele-conferences with board members and their quarterly meetings around the world.

Errol Gardiner has spent a lifetime in the furniture removals industry and purchased New Zealand Van Lines, this country’s largest privately owned company, 27 years ago.

He says the major international issues facing the industry are the global recession, competition from other industry groups and “cowboys” in the marketplace.

“As a result of the recession, the housing market, especially in the UK and America, has been decimated. People staying put has had a dramatic effect on FIDI’s affiliates,” he says.

“There’ve had to reduce staff, become very cost conscious and weather the economic storm as best they can. It’s a demand driven industry and FIDI’s role is to provide the appropriate service and resource material to support its members.”

Errol is particularly concerned by the start-up operator who may just possess a truck but has little understanding of financial costs and, when he goes under, leaves innocent people stranded.

“There’s no insurance cover, property is damaged or offloaded and there are many cases of personal distress and tragedy. FIDI’s best defence is to publicise the message that people shouldn’t be taken in by companies with no credentials,” he says.

While FIDI faces some very real problems, New Zealand Van Lines has grown to become the pre-eminent privately owned company in the New Zealand household removals industry.

Its market share is flourishing and the company has expanded nationally to 13 offices and, through FIDI, a worldwide network of quality agents.

Membership of FIDI is confined to companies who attain the FAIM (FIDI Accredited International Mover) quality certification – best described as an industry-specific ISO standard – with all members being audited globally by Ernst and Young.

“Our membership of FIDI provides our customers assurance of the very best in personal professional service and I’m proud that New Zealand Van Lines was the first company from this country to attain the FAIM badge of excellence,” Errol says.

He was honoured to be inducted as global president. “My company and I will certainly benefit from the contacts I make and the experience I acquire during my tenure,” Errol comments.

“It proves that New Zealand Van Lines is more than a renowned brand in this country’s removals industry and adds another layer of respectability to our business.”

ends

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