Our Team
Our people are the best of the best and expertly trained team members!
Fruehauf NZ Ltd is a company proudly New Zealand owned and operated by people with a deep knowledge of truck trailers and truck bodies for the New Zealand transport industry.
Jeff is a member of the National Road Carriers Association, and have a keen understanding of the competitive, regulatory and commercial realities of working in the transport industry.
Jeff Mear
Managing Director
Jeff understands trailer and customer requirements better than most. He was sales and marketing manager for Roadmaster for 17 years before becoming owner of Fruehauf. In that role, he was closely involved in the design of new trucks and trailers for the Orix national rental and lease fleet. Jeff manages sales and customer relationships, and has championed innovation and customisation as a strategic imperative for Fruehauf.
The results of his drive and passion are evident in developments such as the innovative chicken trailer and walking floor functionality for improved load / unload efficiency.
Phil Pole
General Manager (Finance)
Homelife is taken up with extended family, having grandson and granddaughter living at their lifestyle block. What they say is true. It is a lifestyle block, as it wrecks your lifestyle. Phil enjoys gardening aspect, cooking a mean slow cooked brisket, walking, and is a keen member of the Omaha Golf Club, when time permits.
Rory O'Sullivan
General Manager (Manufacturing)
As General Manager Manufacturing, Rory oversees product design and manufacture, ensuring that Fruehauf design standards are met, and regulatory compliance is achieved. Originally from the emerald Isle Rory moved to New Zealand in 2006. He has worked in a variety of mechanical engineering roles and has specialised in Heavy transport for the past 12 years. Rory has worked as a consultancy for all things mechanical while gaining the NZTA Certification authorities and also as a Fleet Project manager for Waste Management. Alongside the role at Fruehauf he is heavily involved with industry support groups such as Heavy Vehicle Engineers (HVE) having spent time as chairman and seven years on the committee and New Zealand Truck Trailer Manufacturers Federation (NZTTMF) offering technical support.
Outside of work, Rory enjoys playing and watching football (soccer) and spending time with his family.
Gary Griesel
General Manager QC – Standardisation – Training & Fleet
Gary is based at our Auckland Head Office, and is the General Manager QC – Standardisation – Training & Fleet. He is a New Zealander by choice, having been here for six years, and lives in the bustling metropolis of Kawakawa Bay.
His background is construction, having owned his own successful business for 16 years which he sold in 2012. Prior to emigrating to New Zealand, he was a Regional Maintenance Manager in the concrete industry, looking after an extensive fleet of Mercedes Benz trucks, pump trucks, and concrete plants in South Africa.
He is a petrol head by nature, and has a passion for trucking which fits his role perfectly. He is an approved Training assessor (Teta – ETQA), and has worked extensively with Mercedes Benz in that realm. During that time he managed to obtain full accreditation for an in-house training centre, and has a particular penchant for safety.
Outside of the work place he enjoys sailing and flying which he hopes to get back into someday, he also enjoys spending time with his wife (the boss), and adventure bike riding.
Andrew Law
Certifying Engineer
Andrew oversees product design and manufacture, ensuring that Fruehauf design standards are met, and regulatory compliance is achieved. Andrew has worked with Fruehauf, and its predecessor, Dometts, at various times since the 1970s. His skills in engineering and design have been enhanced through experience outside the transport industry, helping him to see challenges from different angles. This includes the design of high power motor controllers for PDL Electronics, meat plant design for Pro-And Feilding, and restructuring of power charges for the Hawke’s Bay Power. He has also been a consulting engineer and NZTA certifier with Randalls, based in Palmerston North.
Lessons in Law: Training under his dad, Russell Law, has stood the test of time and proven over many years that a methodical system is essential for both design and record. Andrew has enjoyed variety in his career that has helped him to be receptive to other points of view. He loves it!
Chris Scahill
General Manager (Aftermarket and Procurement)
Chris is a dedicated and results-driven GM of Aftermarket and Procurement with over 25 years of experience in the automotive parts and service industry. Throughout his career, he has focused on leading teams through change, building collaboration and keeping everyone aligned toward shared goals.
Chris takes a hands-on approach to leadership, working closely with both staff and customers to achieve the best possible outcomes. He is passionate about finding innovative solutions, thinking ahead, and turning strategic ideas into practical results that make a real difference.
Amanda Cross
Sales Account Manager (CARGOBULL)
Amanda’s professional journey commenced as a dedicated truck driver in the UK, where she honed her skills and climbed the ranks to eventually serve as a dispatch supervisor and senior recruitment consultant at Driver Hire UK.
Relocating to New Zealand in 2012 with her family, Amanda transitioned into Truck Sales, promoting Fuso and Mercedes-Benz trucks for Road life/Keith Andrew’s Trucks. Her tenure in this role solidified her expertise in the transport industry and enriched her understanding of New Zealand’s unique market dynamics.
Demonstrating adaptability and a drive for excellence, Amanda pivoted to specialize in refrigeration sales at Transcold Group Ltd. Progressing she assumed the role of Sales Manager, where she cultivated a profound understanding of truck refrigeration systems and tail lifts.
Her comprehensive knowledge of the New Zealand refrigerated transport industry, coupled with a steadfast commitment to meeting customer requirements, underscores her ability to navigate complex market landscapes while striving to achieve client satisfaction.
Paul Cranston
Sales Account Manager (Upper North Island)
After many years managing our Service & Repair facilities at Wiri, Paul has now transitioned into the role of Sales Account Manager for the Upper North Island, based in Head Office Wiri, Auckland. Paul has worked in the transport industry since 1989, and most of this time has been in the manufacture of truck bodies and trailers for both Fruehauf and Roadmaster. He has all-round experience spanning the manufacture of fabricated parts, sales, engineering and production management. Experience in construction fabrication for a company that made balustrades and staircases, has broadened Paul’s knowledge of the process and people management.
Chad Thomas
Sales Account Manager (Central)
We are delighted to welcome Chad back to Fruehauf for a new and exciting personal challenge. Chad is our Account Manager for the Lower North Island, based in Feilding. Chad works with customers in a range of transport sectors, with a focus on new trailer design. Having worked his way up from a fitter welder apprentice drawing on his wide range of technical skills and experience with the company. Chad joined Domett Fruehauf in 1995 as a parts assistant (and smoko boy). He worked his way up into an apprenticeship and completed trade certification in 2005. He then left Fruehauf to broaden his engineering skills and returned in 2009 as a fitter welder. He was appointed Team Leader of Fabrication then took on a new role as Service and Repair Manager. Chad left us briefly but has since returned to take on this new challenge in his career.
Outside of work, Chad enjoys keeping fit, playing cricket and rugby, and spending time with his amazing family.
Perry Davis
Sales Account Manager (South Island)
Perry brings a wealth of experience across several key industries, having begun his career with Southland Farmers Co-op Machinery before moving onto roles with Shell Oil, Nestle, and Skellerup industries. His background reflects strong connection to NZ primary industries. His commitment to customer satisfaction, coupled with a strong service ethic and a proactive approach, has enabled him to build lasting relationships throughout his career. The transport sector provides the perfect platform for Perry’s skills and work ethic to excel.
Outside of work: A passionate car enthusiast, Perry has restored numerous classic cars to an exceptional standard.
Dan Aukett
Operations Manager (Auckland)
Dan has always enjoyed engineering and started off by working school holidays and weekends for a small engineering business in Bombay – McKenzie Engineering in South Auckland.
He left school to join the NZ Army in 1986 and served eight years in the Electrical and Mechanical Corp. He served his Fitter Welder apprenticeship while in the Army and left with Advanced Trade qualifications. Since leaving the Defence Force Dan has worked extensively in the Manufacturing and Service/Repairs industries with some of the country’s premier companies.
Dan brings many years of Engineering and Management experience to Fruehauf and is looking forward to many more years at Fruehauf NZ.
Outside of work, he loves spending time with friends and family, hunting and fishing, and a good game of rugby league.
Alan Kentish
Operations Manager (Feilding)
Alan Kentish joined Fruehauf NZ Ltd as Operations Manager Feilding in October 2021. Alan is responsible for the day to day operations of the Feilding Branch and brings with him 20 years of Management knowledge within the engineering and steel industry. Alan has been living in the Manawatu for the last 17 years and out of work Alan enjoys playing Golf and Gardening and spending time with his family.
Joshua Mear
Refrigeration Solution Manager
With over 13 years of experience in the transport industry, Joshua began his journey at Fruehauf on the workshop floor before progressing into the finishing department. He has since grown into the role of Refrigeration Solutions Manager, where he works closely with customers and Schmitz Cargobull telematics solutions to help deliver reliable and efficient outcomes.
