Newly Appointed Chief Executive Shares Vision

Newly Appointed Chief Executive Shares Vision

IT, innovation and connecting with clients both historic and new underpin the fresh vision for economic development service – the Pacific Business Trust.

Incoming Chief Executive, Rob Neru, says the Trust will aim to lift its productivity towards its clients by being more innovative and connecting with clients by using technology to its fullest potential.

He’ll be sharing his vision with the Pacific business community tonight at the Unlimited Pasifika Seminar in Auckland.

Neru brings with him 25 years of experience owning and operating a variety of lucrative businesses including domestic and commercial air conditioning, million dollar earthworks and drainage contracts, and high performance sports and training software which is being distributed in Japan, Australia, the United States and Asia.

He decided to join PBT at the peak of his entrepreneurial career to share his business experiences with Pacific businesses.

“Productivity is generic for any business, whether you’re a Samoan business in Otara selling food or a large corporation,” says Neru. “They have the same mechanics which require certain aspects such as IT systems, accounting and marketing. If you do those processes correctly you’ll get better productivity which leads to earning a higher profit margin.”

One of his first tasks will be working with his team to improve systems at PBT and rebranding it as an innovative, client focussed organisation.

“We need to focus our energies so our clients know we’re here. I look back in PBT’s history and it’s done really well but it needs to be brought into the 22nd century. There are tools we can use to help our Pacific business community and their families prosper. This includes Pacific peoples in areas of the country that we don’t service. We’ll bring technology in to do that through live video streaming. We can create a better communication line with our current and future business clients.”

With nearly three decades of business management under his belt, Neru says it’s important for PBT to understand the changing requirements and realities of business. What may have worked ten years ago may not work today. Technology is now one of the biggest factors which can increase business productivity.

“I’ll be running a productivity seminar to talk about this. IT and innovation are a big business requirement. If you don’t have 80% of your business in IT focus then you’re going to suffer. There are simple tools like Skype which you can use to communicate so you don’t have to get out in the car and spend money for fuel.”

Neru says although PBT is a not for profit organisation, it will explore ways of bringing external income into the organisation to prove it can model good business practice.

“We cherish our relationships with the Ministry of Pacific Affairs and other government ministries, but we also need to prove PBT isn’t just a government funded organisation. That it can be a business of itself. If we can show that then hopefully we can lead by example.”

In its 30 years of operation, PBT has serviced hundreds of Pacific business clients, many of whom they have lost touch with. Neru says they will be reaching out to these “lost” clients to see how they’re going.

“It’s important we are more proactive in the way we communicate our business strengths to all of our Pacific business people both past, present and future.”

ENDS

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