Please tell us a bit about yourself. 

I am originally from the UK where my journey as an engineer started. I happened to get into it by watching some engineers working and thought that looked like a cool job. I did my fitter and turner training and away I went. In 1982 I left the UK to travel to NZ. I never moved back. 

March 28th, 2021 marked your 37th anniversary with Atlas Copco. What decision led you to join Atlas Copco? 

I came in contact to with compressed air equipment from my apprenticeship and I liked it. When I saw an advert for a Service engineer job at CTS, Atlas Copco NZ, in Auckland, it was a ‘no brainer’ to apply. I got the job after my first interview. Here I am after 37 years!

Why did you decide to spend 37 years with Atlas Copco New Zealand? 

I have always enjoyed the job and the family like company culture. The job was always interesting and varied and I got to travel a lot. A big reason for staying is my Atlas Copco family, the good ‘bantras’ and many laughs. I will miss that a lot!

What has been the best part of this journey? 

The best part of my career was taking on a training role where I was a trainer of other engineers. It involved a lot of travel and meeting with people all over Atlas Copco. I loved that time of my career. I travelled to Belgium, Philippines and Australia.

What is the greatest challenge or highlight you have experienced?

One memory that come to mind is a job I was doing as an engineer on a big oil-rig out at sea where I was dropped by a helicopter. I was only going to stay for a short while but the weather turned on me so I had to stay on for 19 days! Had to do shifts 4 hours on 4 hours off for the entire time...

If you could go back in time, is there anything you would like to change?

My biggest ‘regret’ is that I wasn’t able to stay in the train the trainer job. After leaving the trainer job I went back to the ‘tools’ and looking after the warranties. I did not enjoy that as much but I have always enjoyed my colleagues and especially the back-office girls have been great to me in the last few years, when I sometimes struggled with the computer side of things.

What is the biggest change to the role as a service engineer?

The biggest change by far is the digitalisation of everything. When I started in 1984, we had no phones or computers, we communicated by word of mouth, and later CB radios – today everything is computerised.

What advice would you give anyone thinking of applying to Atlas Copco?

Don’t run before you can walk! Things takes a bit of time at Atlas Copco and you will get your head around it eventually. 

What will you do after your final day?

As soon as the boarders open, I will take a long holiday over to the UK to see my grandchildren and son who I have not seen for a long time. I have also been offered to be on a TV/radio advert. Apparently, they like my voice…!