Simon Hupfeld
Chief Executive Officer
Simon has worked in the garden and hardware industry for over 20 years, beginning his journey as a part-owner of Northcote Pottery. Following the sale of Northcote Pottery to Griffon Corporation, Simon became the CEO for AMES in ANZ (and UK/Europe for a period). Simon enjoys building and leading great teams and prioritizes culture and positive relationships as the vehicles of business growth and success. Simon holds an B.A. (Psychology) from the University of Adelaide, and an MBA from Melbourne Business School.
Dale McGrath
Chief Financial Officer
Dale has over 30 years' experience in senior Finance roles with corporate and large private businesses. Dale holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Bryant University. After graduating she joined Touche Ross and earned her CPA qualification. Over nine years she serviced clients across a multitude of industries in both the US and Australia. Dale's passion is analyzing data and simplifying processes. Mentoring individuals across the business is also a key passion, passing on the knowledge she has gained. Over the past 15 years, Dale has played a leading role on more than 15 acquisitions and divestments, contributing across finance, legal property, commercial and IP.
Michael Wood
Head of People and Culture
Michael has over 25 years' experience working in operations, L & D and Human Resource management for large and diverse businesses. He is passionate about driving behaviors in ahigh-performance culture as a true business partner. Michael holds several degrees in Career development, OH&S, business and is completing his Masters in Commerce, Human resources.
Francois Cleret
Sales and Marketing Director
Francois has over 15 years' experience working in Senior Commercial roles for large multi-national CPG and B2B organizations across the ANZ and SEA regions. Francois believes in putting “customers at the center of everything we do” in order to create long-term and sustainable partnerships. Francois has and continue to successfully lead large and diverse teams delivering market share gains, revenue and profit growth Francois holds an MBA from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Simon Vistarini
National Operations Manager
Simon has 20 years' experience in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution businesses, in a variety of Plant and Operations Manager roles with industry-leading FMCG companies including Simplot and Ingham's. Simon firmly believes that the safety of all team members is our number 1 priority, followed closely by outstanding service to customers through quality and fulfilment excellence. He is passionate about developing individuals and winning teams as the foundation for success across the nine sites he currently oversees. Simon holds a Master of Professional Accounting from Latrobe University and a Bachelor of Business from Victoria University. Including large-scale FMCG manufacturing.
Michael Buffinton
Head of Merchandise and Innovation
Michael, serving as the Director of Product & Innovation at AMES Australasia, spearheads a dynamic team responsible for the conception, design, production, and procurement of products. As a qualified designer with 25+ years in product design and development, Michael has exhibited his proficiency and creative acumen in the diverse realms of product development & engineering spanning various industries encompassing: Outdoor landscaping lighting, FMCG consumer products, industrial & building construction products, & sporting goods. This breadth of experience reflects Michael's versatility and adeptness in delivering innovative and impactful designs across a wide spectrum of sectors.
John Hynes
Head of Supply Chain
John is an experienced supply chain executive with two decades of expertise in senior positions across various industries. Holding a Master of Business in Logistics Management from RMIT, John specializes in strategic leadership, driving profitable growth through operational enhancements, improved customer service, talent development, and cost reduction initiatives. His successful leadership spans complex domestic and international supply chain operations in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, packaging, and consumer goods sectors. He is passionate about innovation, continuous improvement and creating value across the supply chain.
