General Manager, Kay Brothers
Company Directors Course
Australian Institute of Company Directors, 2012
On a sweltering day in January 2001, Steve Todd and his family arrived in Adelaide with no job, a temporary house and a new language to learn! Looking back, he said it was the best thing he’s ever done. Judging by his success, we can certainly see why. Learn more about Steve’s journey from the other side of the globe to managing a family-owned winery in picturesque McLaren Vale.
Where it all began
“My career background was as an engineer/production manager in the food industry. Shortly after arriving in Adelaide, I started working at Balfours, the wholesale bakery at the time based in the city. Through circumstance I was soon asked to look after the large project of moving the bakery from the city to a new location in Dudley Park, all the while managing a multidisciplinary team and without production loss – exciting and educational times! From there I got my first general manager role running a small egg company. We had grand plans for expansion, all backed by investors and banks, but then the GFC hit and the world fell away. That was the first time I had to make people redundant, and the first time I was made redundant, as we put Plan B into action and sold the business. Fortunately for me a good friend recognised something in me and recommended me for a role as general manager of Scan Conversion Services. The IT business had two aspects; scanning invoices including data capture; and developing the software systems to process and handle those scanned invoices.”
My initiation to the ILF
“The MD and I both knew we needed to restructure the business to facilitate a later sale of the scanning operations, but we had little experience in how to go about it. By chance, the MD had read an article about the ILF at the same time I was exploring professional development opportunities. Long story short, I was lucky enough to study the Company Directors Course run by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) with ILF backing in late 2012. The benefits were immediate as we implemented the learnings about corporate strategy and risk management reporting. The goal was to consolidate the scanning business rather than volume growth, which would come from the software side of operations. After two years, that part of the business was ready to sell and I was again made redundant! Given I knew this was about to happen, my next venture was already awaiting.”
Introducing Kay Brothers
“Kay Brothers is the oldest family-owned McLaren Vale winery that remains under founding family ownership. Founded in 1891, the business has been through many trials including two pandemics, a couple of world wars and all the normal issues that agriculture throws at a business! My role, as the first non-family member to run the organisation, was to bring a more corporate outlook to its operations. We embarked on a full board structure (thanks to the AICD course!); a comprehensive long-term strategy; a modernised customer offering at the cellar door; and improved winery operations. As someone who didn’t have any winery experience, the recognition of transferable skills again came to the fore. Kay Brothers is a very different business in look and feel to what it was eight years ago. There are exciting times ahead as we continue to adapt, as we have done for over 130 years, to changing markets.”
Endless benefits
“I’ve been exposed to a wide business network full of smart SA business leaders, both through the ILF Scholars Network and membership of the AICD. This has been a great source of information, good counsel and enjoyment over the past decade and, particularly over the last two years, has been a massive help in my business and personal life. I’ve also been able to apply the knowledge from the course in my other roles as Chairman of the Workers’ Education Association and as member-director on the board of the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association.”
Take-home messages
- Skills are more transferable than you realise; give new things a go.
- Confidence in your abilities is vital.
- Networks are vital – especially in Adelaide – build them.
- Friendships come from shared experiences; be open.
- Always look for personal development opportunities.
