Gallaghers new face in the Bay of Plenty - Tom Fitzgerald

We’re pleased to welcome Tom Fitzgerald through the Gallagher gate as our new Territory Manager for the Bay of Plenty/South Waikato area.

With a strong background in business and brand management, Tom is looking forward to discovering new opportunities for Gallagher across the region. Prior to joining Gallagher, Tom worked as an account manager in Canada for another leading New Zealand company, Icebreaker.

In his new role, Tom will spend time traveling and talking to resellers and customers in-store and on-farm.

“Essentially my role is to put a human face to the Gallagher brand so our resellers and end-users connect with Gallagher like they would with a person,” says Tom. “Gallagher isn’t just a big corporation that manufactures a stream of products; we’re real people here to help people and solve their problems.”

Tom will join Gallagher’s ranks as one of 10 territory managers spanning Aotearoa, from Northland to Southland, providing nationwide system selection advice, training, and support to clients.

Originally from Mount Maunganui, Tom is looking forward to returning to his old stomping ground in the Bay of Plenty.

He believes that relationship-building is key to success in business. “For the majority of our clientele they want more than just the products,” says Tom. “They are looking for support, information, and expert advice – and that’s something I believe Gallagher does really well.”

Understanding the needs of farmers is second-nature to Tom, who has spent a lot of time on farms over the years both recreationally and professionally.

One job saw Tom spend a year beekeeping in the Central North Island. “I worked on beehives in and around Owhango National Park and these were generally located on sheep and beef farms,” says Tom. “I enjoy working on and talking about the land, and I look forward to engaging with farmers in my new job.”

Tom says that Gallagher’s made-in-New Zealand label is extremely valuable to the company. “Having a lot of product manufactured in the country is a huge strength. Our New Zealand roots really resonate with our customers, and it also means distribution and delivery is fast and efficient.”

Although he’s only recently started in his new role, Tom already sees Gallagher as a leader in customer support.

“How the teams work together behind the scenes is what makes our customer support so effective,” says Tom. “Our development, warranty, customer service teams, and territory managers are always talking which enables problems to be solved quickly and for future-proofing if any issues arise again.”

A people-person, Tom is looking forward to building relationships and getting to know colleagues and customers. “I’m excited about the job, and for me, I’m most looking forward to meeting people on the ground, particularly our reseller staff and current clients on their property.”