GARDINER KNOBLOCH - Key Persons
David Jones has been sold just before Christmas, bringing the iconic company back under Australian ownership.
Ewan Gardiner and Graeme Knobloch met when they were working at Watson Blampied and Partners, an accountancy firm with four branches dotted around the Hawke's Bay region - Graeme in Waipukurau and Ewan in Napier. When Mr Blampied retired, Graeme moved to Napier to help his colleague in the Napier office.
The pair withdrew from the Watson Blampied group and set up their own firm, Gardiner Knobloch, working from an office in Tennyson Street. They had a modest client base of local businesses but quickly expanded, moving to new premises in Shakespeare Road where the firm remains today. Peter Gillies joined the practice in 1993 and became a Director in 2000. More recent appointments include Leon Collier as Director, and Lisa Hardie and David Steel as Associates, further adding to the wealth of experience leading Gardiner Knobloch Ltd.
Leon was made a Director of Gardiner Knobloch in January 2017. He joined the firm in 2012 after a short stint with the accounting firm WHK. Prior to his accounting career, Leon worked for the BNZ as a rural banker. He has a Bachelor of Business Studies in Agribusiness, a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting and is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant.
Leon is able to share with his clients his broad knowledge of financial practices and experience in financial management. His strengths lie in assisting businesses with their strategy, planning, performance monitoring and problem solving. Leon also has a passion for helping emerging businesses to establish themselves and succeed.
Leon was brought up in Hawkes Bay and now lives in Clive with his wife and 3 kids. Leon plays golf, surfs, and competes in the occasional triathlon. Most Saturdays he can be found coaching or watching his kids sports games. Leon has also played in a number of local rock bands over the years, and music is also one of his passions.
"I love working in a smaller team as it enables me to get closely involved with my clients and their businesses."
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Birthright Hawke 's Bay Child
Lisa is the Chair of Birthright Hawke's Bay Child and Family Care Trust, a not for profit organisation that provides practical and emotional support to vulnerable families, and early childhood education.
Peter joined Gardiner Knobloch in 1993 after working in the banking industry and completing his accountancy studies in Hawke's Bay and Wellington. In 2000, Peter was appointed a director of the firm alongside Ewan Gardiner and Graeme Knobloch.
Job Titles:
- Business Manager
- in 2010 As Business Manager
Tracy joined Gardiner Knobloch in 2010 as Business Manager, bringing to the firm 20 years' accountancy and software training experience.
She has a Bachelor of Management Studies majoring in Accounting from Waikato University. After completing her studies, she worked as an accountant in Taupo before moving to Hawke's Bay in 1995 to join a local accounting firm as I.T. manager. Three years later, Tracy established her own company, training business owners and staff in accountancy and Microsoft software. It was during this time that she wrote and published several accounting software user manuals.
Tracy's strong I.T. and business management skills enable her to manage the administration functions of the business and support clients with their accounting software. She received one of nine Xero Community Hero awards in 2017, for being a top contributor to the Xero Online Community, the only New Zealander to be recognised.
Napier is home for Tracy, her husband and their two daughters. In her spare time she enjoys a variety of creative pursuits including photography and playing the piano.
"I have a passion for questioning if things could be done better and more effectively. The Gardiner Knobloch team really enjoys working together and we all share in our clients' successes."