Gallagher has announced that Kahl Betham has been appointed chief executive officer for the Group. After almost 6 transformative decades with the company, Sir William Gallagher will shift to the role of president of Gallagher Holdings Limited, with an ambassadorial focus.
In November 2018, the company announced a succession planning process was underway when Sir William outlined his intention to begin an orderly leadership transition, enabling him to eventually move away from his day-to-day responsibilities. To prepare for this shift, then deputy CEO & executive director Steve Tucker moved to executive chair of the board and then global general manager for Security, Kahl Betham, stepped up to Steve’s executive management and board position.
In his newly expanded role, Betham will bring over 2 decades of Gallagher experience to lead the company’s efforts which span the animal management, security, and fuel systems industries. He will continue to oversee the operations, research and development, information services, people and brand, finance, risk and responsibility and legal functions.
“Throughout their careers, Sir William and Kahl have given the Gallagher brand so much,” said Steve Tucker, Gallagher’s executive chair. “Over the past few years, the board has looked at how it builds continued strong governance and Kahl’s leadership is a great fit for the company to ensure the legacy Sir William has built over so long as leader continues for many years to come.”
Kahl joined the company in 1997 and has held a number of roles, spanning engineering, business analysis, market research, product development as well as senior leadership roles.
“It is the opportunity of a lifetime to lead the number one privately-owned tech exporter in New Zealand,” said Kahl. “I am looking forward to continuing this journey, and to further building on everything we stand for across our people, customers, and business partners.”
Gallagher today operates from 10 key office locations around the world and has over 1000 employees who are dedicated to delivering solutions that add real value for customers.
“When my father, Bill Gallagher Senior, started the company in 1938, never did I imagine that it would grow to quite the size and scale it has,” said Sir William. “I’m immensely proud to look back on what has been an extremely rewarding career thanks to so many people, both in New Zealand and right around the world.
“It’s now time for me to start moving away from the more day to day operations of the company, but I’m very much looking forward to remaining an active part of Gallagher in my new ambassadorial role and being able to travel again when borders reopen.”
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