McKay doubles Auckland operations with new acquisition

The McKay Group today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Ward Chandler Electrical Limited located in Auckland. The acquisition will mean a 30% increase in size across the McKay Group of companies and will double the size of McKay’s existing operations in Auckland. Now with over 300 frontline employees, McKay Group has become one of the largest privately owned electrical organisations in New Zealand.

Ward Chandler is a major electrical contractor in Auckland with a proud heritage of over 50 years, completing some of the most significant projects in the region. Ward Chandler’s 70 skilled employees will add significantly to McKay’s growing capabilities to deliver quality projects in the greater Auckland region. Furthermore, combining customer bases will allow McKay to gain access to Auckland’s commercial market for the first time.

Mark Borland, Ward Chandler’s current owner, will be staying on with McKay as part of the NZ Executive in a senior project management role. All of Ward Chandler’s existing employees will be fully integrated into the McKay Group of companies.

“The Ward Chandler brand has a strong track record in the Auckland market. We will maintain their excellent market positioning as the operation continues to grow”, says Andrew Edwards, McKay’s Chief Operating Officer. “Ward Chandler customers will continue to see the Ward Chandler brand and the business will continue to operate as usual but now with extra support and strength from McKay”.

The combination brings together two successful family owned and highly respected companies. McKay’s resources and skills in design, automation, and heavy industrial electrical engineering combined with Ward Chandler’s presence in the Auckland region means that the group of companies will be able to offer significant resources into all projects across the greater Auckland region. In addition the acquisition complements McKay’s existing upper North Island footprint which extends from the Bay of Plenty right up to the far north of New Zealand.

“The acquisition was a natural fit as McKay and Ward Chandler have very similar values and similar history. At this time I would like to acknowledge the work of the founders of the Ward Chandler business, David Ward and Morrie Chandler, and the continuation of their work by Mark Borland”, said Lindsay Faithfull McKay’s Managing Director. “McKay is very proud to be able to continue the proud traditions of their foundations and are excited by what the combined organisations can achieve into the future”.

Mr Faithfull further added that McKay will now focus on developing collaborative relationships with local stakeholders as it seeks to build on Ward Chandler’s strong history of local engagement and commitment to quality.