Leigh Ainsworth
Chief Executive and Managing Director of Coates Hire Group

Appointed in September 2008, Leigh Ainsworth is the Chief Executive and Managing Director of Coates Hire. Mr Ainsworth is based in Sydney, Australia.

Leigh has an extensive background in the Industrial Services, Transport and Waste Management industries with over 20 years management experience.  Prior to joining Coates Hire, Leigh was formerly Chief Executive and a Director of Thiess Services, a subsidiary of Australia’s largest construction group Leighton Holdings. Prior to this Leigh was the National Manager of Operations for Thiess Services where he held various senior management roles from 1986.

James Welch
Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Welch joined Coates Hire in October 2009 as a Director and Chief Financial Officer and is based in Sydney, Australia.

Mr Welch’s experience includes commercial accounting and public practice roles across a wide range of industries, including services, construction, mining and property.  Prior to joining Coates Hire, Mr. Welch spent 9 years with the Thiess Group where he held several roles within the Theiss Group of companies, including General Manager - Finance Commercial and Company Secretary for Thiess Services Pty. Ltd.

Mr. Welch has been an ICAA Associate for 14 years and a member of the Financial Executives Institute for 4 years.

Greg Parfitt
Executive General Manager - East

Greg Parfitt has over 21 years experience in the Australian Equipment Hire Industry. During this time Greg has performed a variety of positions encompassing operations, sales, marketing and strategic planning. His roles have involved running businesses across the Eastern Seaboard and included rollout of new products and acquisition integration.

Greg joined National Hire in 1989 and has continued his employment through the Coates Hire merger. He is currently the Executive General Manager for Coates Hire East.

Greg’s extensive industry knowledge includes active involvement with the Hire and Rental Association and the Elevated Work Platform Association of Australia (EWPAA). He has held numerous State and National Committee positions within EWPAA and has served a term as National President.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Economics) from the University of Cape Town (South Africa).

Adrian Manning
Executive General Manager - North

Adrian Manning is currently Executive General Manager for Coates Hire North.  He is based at the Queensland Head Office at Meadowbrook, Brisbane.

Prior to joining the Coates Hire Group, Adrian was the NSW General Manager for Kennard’s Hire, and prior to that spent 17 years with National Hire.  During his 17 year career with National Hire, Adrian held various roles from Branch Manager to General Manager, Business Improvement and Growth.

Adrian is highly regarded in the industry and his extensive experience and strategic management adds significant value to the Queensland team.

Adrian holds a Bachelor of Education (Sydney University) / Advanced Diploma in Business Management (AGSM).

Andrew Coleman
Executive General Manager - South

Andrew Coleman is currently Executive General Manager for Coates Hire South.  He is based in Melbourne, Australia.
Prior to Joining the Coates Hire Group, Andrew was Group General Manager for the Chemicals Division of Orica Ltd.  During his 18 year career with Orica, Andrew held the roles of General Manager – Orica Mining Services Asia, General Manager Dulux New Zealand Limited and various leadership roles in Operations, Product Marketing and Human Resources.

Andrew is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degree and Master of Business Administration from the University of Melbourne.

Marcus Geisler
Executive General Manager - West

In November 2009 Marcus joined Coates Hire as the Executive General Manager West. Marcus is also the Commissioner for PT Allight and the Executive Director for Coates Hire Indonesia.

Mr Geisler's previous roles include West Australian General Manager of waste management company SITA and PWM, Managing Director of West Australian Landfill Services (SITA and Hanson JV) and Business Manager of BioWise Composting (SITA and Water Corporation partnership). From 2004 till 2009 Marcus established the Western Region for Thiess Services as their General Manager.

Mr Geisler holds various diplomas in Economics, Management and Trade and is a Fellow and Alumni of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is engaged by the Western Australian Government on the Waste Authority of Western Australia, developing strategy and policy.

Mark Cain
Executive General Manager - Market Strategy & Planning

Mark joined Coates Hire in 2009 to take on the role of Executive General Manager of Strategy & Planning, a role that carries the responsibility for Business Strategy, Sales & Marketing, Product Management and Business Improvement.

Mark has over 30 years of business experience in Australia and abroad in General Management as well as Marketing and Strategy roles.

Mark holds a Bachelors Degree in Business in Business and a Diploma in Metallurgy

Phil Caris
General Manager - Human Resources

Mr. Caris graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1989 majoring in Labour Relations, Economics, and Criminology.

He has more than 20 years post-graduate Human Resources experience.  This has been drawn from senior roles in the manufacturing, logistics, oil and gas, maritime and resource industries in global organisations including BHP, Coca-Cola and TNT.

Mr. Caris has extensive international human resources experience and was most recently Global Human Resources Director for TNT based in their Amsterdam headquarters.

He joined Coates Hire in 2008.

Andrew Vlachos
Company Secretary

Mr Vlachos is admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of NSW and holds degrees in Arts (University of NSW) and Law (University of Technology Sydney). 

Mr Vlachos is a member of the Law Society of NSW, the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.