COMPANY DIRECTORS
Michael Paardekooper
Chairman of the Board
A Central Otago businessperson, Mike and his wife Gai have 20 years experience with the Group, owning stores in Cromwell, Alexandra and Queenstown Airport and, recently, in partnership in Queenstown. Mike has been a director of Paper Plus for 12 years, including the last 3 years which he has spent as Chairman.
He has 13 years Local Body Government experience, is chairman of the Central Otago Sports Turf Trust and a director of Pioneer Generation Ltd., as well as several other companies.
Mike is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Katie Treneman
Deputy Chairman of the Board
After finishing her Commerce Degree, Katie spent 6 years in commercial and chartered accountancy roles.
Katie returned to the family business thirteen years ago, after travelling overseas, and now owns and operates Paper Plus Howick with her mother, Bev Winstone.
Katie enjoys boating, water skiing and snow skiing.
Mark Fissenden
Director
Together with his wife Megan, Mark owns and operates Paper Plus Kaikoura.
Mark was a Take Note member from its conception in 2000 and converted to a Concept 6 Paper Plus store last November. Prior to his conversion, Mark represented Take Note members on the Paper Plus Group Board of Directors for 3 years. During this time he completed the NZ Institute of Directors training, contributed to Take Note Franchise Committee, focus groups and buying committees. He provides a hands on view of both the Paper Plus and Take Note businesses, as well as a good understanding of NZ Post, Kiwibank, Kiwibank mortgages and Lotto.
Within his community, Mark sits on various local boards and trusts
Stuart Gunn
Director
Coming from an academic background of economics, computer science and geophysics, and having worked for over 10 years out of U.K. Middle East, Egypt, Libya, South & Central Africa followed by a spell in the Bay of Plenty kiwifruit industry, Stuart has finally found true vocation satisfaction in the book and stationery retail sector.
Stuart purchased his Te Puke store when it was an independent, joining the Topline Group which was acquired by Paper Plus in 2000 to form the Take Note brand.
Representing the Take Note brand, Stuart has previously spent five years as a Director of Paper Plus (2002 – 2007) and chaired the Books & More Liaison Committee as these stores were assimilated into the Group.
In 2007 he was awarded the Russell Anstiss Award and in 2008 he converted his Take Note Te Puke store to a Concept 6 Paper Plus store.
David Moir
Director
David has been a member of the Paper Plus Group for 23 years. He is currently a Director and Shareholder of Nambas Ltd which along with his wife Sue and Sean & Jill Weir own Paper Plus stores in Nelson, Blenheim and a 50% share in Take Note Takaka.
David has had governance experience through being a former Director of the Paper Plus Group, the Nelson Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Nayland College Board of Trustees and was the founding Chairman of Uniquely Nelson.
David enjoys family pursuits, all sports, and the occasional surf.
Alister Gunn
Take Note Director
Alister graduated from the University of Canterbury in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science (major subject: applied mathematics).
He then joined Shell NZ as a Marketing Trainee, working his way upwards to the position of Retail Territory Manager.
With his wife Anna, Alister has owned and operated book and stationery franchises since 1999, and became a Take Note franchisee at Motueka in 2006. His store includes a PostShop franchise so he has a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities which this presents.
Since October 2008 he has served as a franchisee member of the NZ Post Franchise Representative Board, which interfaces between franchisees and the company in developing initiatives and resolving common problems.
Maurice Kidd
Independent Director
At the 2008 AGM, a vote was passed to increase the number of Independent Directors to three and, after an extensive market search, Maurice Kidd was appointed as an Independent Director to the Group’s Board.
Maurice brings with him substantial experience as an advisor and, in many instances, as a director to a number of public and private companies. Maurice has a finance and investment background with extensive governance experience. He has held senior positions in New Zealand and international organisations. As well as Paper Plus', his current directorships include: Solution Dynamics Limited (Chairman), Molemap New Zealand Limited (Chairman), Image Centre Limited (Chairman) and East Pack Limited.
He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand and the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Doug Spence
Independent Director
Doug Spence was appointed to the Board in August 2011 as an Independent Director.
Doug began is working life in South Otago employed by the Ministry of Agricultural Fisheries before purchasing an independent grocery store in Oamaru in 1983 which later became a member of the New World Group. Two years later he purchased an additional New World store and in 1991 expanded and purchased Pak n Save Moorhouse Avenue in Christchurch. During his 18 year ownership of this store Doug expanded it from 190 to 400 staff and implemented many innovative ideas including the first self-scan checkouts in New Zealand, the second fuel site and the introduction of a Henry’s liquor store on site. Lead, don’t follow was a very important factor for Doug, keeping ahead of the competition and growing the business into a success.
Doug was also a Director on the Board of Foodstuffs for eight years and held positions within the Board, namely the appointment of owner/operators to supermarkets in the South Island. A motivator who leads by example, he enjoyed working with the operators to achieve the best results for their business.
Doug’s personal interests include following most sports. He played senior rugby for 17 years in South Otago and Oamaru, has a black belt in Karate and now instructs others through their gradings. He enjoys spending time with his family in Christchurch, boating, water sports and travel. For the past eight years he has been Chairman of the financial committee for the Christchurch Cathedral.
