Peter Gammell
Chairman and Non-Executive Director

Peter Gammell is the Chairman of the Board of Coates Group Holdings Pty Limited (Coates Hire), Australia’s largest equipment hire company, and has held this position since January 2008 following the merger of the Coates and National Hire companies in January 2008. He is based in Perth, Australia.

Mr Gammell was a Director of National Hire Group Limited – having led the transaction in 2007 to acquire Coates Hire in a joint venture with the private equity firm Carlyle Group. 

He is also a Director of West Australian Newspapers Holdings Ltd, Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd and the Deputy Chairman of Australian Capital Equity Pty Ltd (ACE), the holding company associated with Mr. Kerry Stokes. He was the Managing Director for the last 20 years.

As Managing Director of ACE, Mr Gammell has built the Western Australian based group into one of Australia’s largest private companies. 

Mr Gammell has served as a Director of Seven Network Limited for the last 14 years. He was Chairman of the Seven Network Finance Committee and was a member of the Audit committee. He led the creation of the Seven Media Group, a joint venture between Seven Network Limited and the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. in 2006. He led the acquisition of Pacific Magazines in 2002 and served as a Director of that company.

In June 2010 Mr Gammell was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Seven Group Holdings Limited, a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange which was formed as a result of the merger of Seven Network Limited and WesTrac Holdings Pty. Ltd. WesTrac is the Caterpillar equipment dealer for Western Australia, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and North East China.

Mr. Gammell is a former Director of Federal Capital Press Pty. Ltd. the publisher of The Canberra times (1989 – 1998) and a former Director of the Community Newspaper Group (1996-1998).

Mr. Gammell is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Edinburgh. He has lived in Perth for the last 18 years. 

Simon Moore
Non-Executive Director

Mr. Moore has been a Director of the Board of Coates Hire since January 2008 and is a Managing Director with The Carlyle Group based in Sydney, Australia.

Prior to joining The Carlyle Group, Mr. Moore was a Managing Director and Investment Committee Member of Investcorp International, Inc. based in New York.  While at Investcorp International, Mr. Moore was a Director of CSK Auto, Inc., Aero Products International, Inc., MW Manufacturers, Inc. and Associated Materials Holdings.  Prior to that, Mr. Moore worked in private equity investments and investment banking at J.P. Morgan & Co. in New York, Hong Kong and Melbourne.

Mr. Moore holds honours degrees in law and commerce from University of Queensland.

Andrew Aitken
Non-Executive Director

Mr Aitken was appointed to the Board of Coates Hire in January 2008 and is based in Perth, Australia. 

Mr. Aitken is Managing Director of National Hire Group Limited (NHGL). He was a non-executive Director of NHGL from December 2004until his appointment as Managing Director in May 2008. Mr. Aitken’s appointment followed his employment with Australian Capital Equity Pty Limited where his focus since joining that company in 2003 was on the development of its equipment rental businesses. Prior to coming to Australia in 2003, Mr Aitken worked in the South African financial services industry for 13 years. 

Mr. Aitken holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an honours degree from the University of Natal and the University of Cape Town respectively and a post graduate diploma in social studies from Oxford University.

Jim Walker
Non-Executive Director

Mr Walker has been a non-executive Director of Coates Hire since July 2008 and is based in Perth, Australia.

Mr. Walker is also the Managing Director of WesTrac Pty. Ltd. which he has held since 2000.  Prior to his current position, Mr Walker worked within WesTrac in the areas of Sales and Marketing as well as the Operations area.

Mr. Walker participates on the Board of the Australian Institute of Management, Executive – Chamber of Minerals & Energy, member of Rotary Club of Mill Point and Trustee - Motor Museum Western Australia.

Malcom Broomhead
Non-Executive Director

Mr Broomhead has been a non-executive Director of Coates Hire since January 2008 and is based in Melbourne, Australia. 

Former Managing Director and CEO, Orica Ltd from 2001 until September 2005, Mr Broomhead led a strongly performing global business, controlling interests in more than 45 countries. 

Prior to his role with Orica, Mr Broomhead had extensive experience in the resources industry, as well as considerable depth in finance, investment and construction activities. He worked in management positions with Halcrow (UK), MIM Holdings, Peko Wallsend, Industrial Equity and North Limited, where he was Managing Director and CEO prior to his move to Orica.

Mr. Broomhead holds degrees in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Queensland. 

He is a past Director of the Business Council of Australia and is currently a Non-Executive Director of Coates Group Holdings Pty. Ltd, BHP Billiton Ltd and Plc and Asciano Limited (where he is also Chairman).

Maurice James
Non-Executive Director

Mr James has been a non-executive Director of Coates Hire since January 2008 and is based in Melbourne, Australia.

Mr James is a former Executive Director at Patrick Corporation and has over 30 years’ experience in engineering, ports and logistics industries. He spent 12 years at Patrick Corporation during which time it was sold to Toll Holdings in 2006. Prior to this role, Mr. James spent 15 years at the Port of Melbourne Corporation.

Mr James is currently Deputy Chairman of the Investment and Advisory Committee for Qube Logistics Pty. Ltd., Chairman of POTA Holdings Pty. Ltd., Non-Executive Director of POAGS Pty. Ltd. and Non-Executive Director Australian Amalgamated Terminals Pty. Ltd.

Mr. James holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Master of Business Administration from Monash University.

Stephen Donnelley
Non-Executive Director

Mr Donnelley has been a non-executive Director of Coates Hire since February 2009 and is based in Sydney, Australia.

Mr Donnelley is also a director of National Hire Group Limited (NHGL). Mr Donnelley was Managing Director of National Hire Group Limited from 1997 to 2008. Mr Donnelley has extensive experience in the Hire Industry in Australia and was the founder of Stephen Donnelley Hire in Wollongong in 1981. 

Mr Donnelley is a previous President of the Hire and Rental Association of NSW and a founding member of the Elevated Work Platform Association of Australia. He was awarded the President’s Award for services to the Hire Industry by the Hire and Rental Association of Australia in 1995.

Mr Donnelley continues his professional development most recently having attended an Oxford University Business Economics Program and INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy in France.

Matthew Hunter
Non-Executive Director

Mr Hunter has been a non-executive Director of Coates Hire since February 2011. Mr. Hunter is also a Director at The Carlyle Group focussed on Australasian buyout opportunities.  He is based in Sydney, Australia.

Prior to joining Carlyle, Mr Hunter had a career in investment banking in Australia and the United Kingdom, during which time he advised clients on mergers and acquisitions across a broad range of industries, but principally in the consumer & industrial and financial services sectors.  

Matthew holds a degree in Commerce (First Class Honors in Finance) from the University of NSW. He is also a Non-Executive Director of holding companies associated with Healthscope Limited.

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.