Growing up in Newtownstewart, Kyle Baxter had a strong interest in machinery right from a young age. After finishing school, Kyle headed for Harper Adams College where he studied Agricultural Engineering

After spending a few years working with agricultural contractors and on large scale farming operations in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, Kyle took on a European commercial training role with CNH Industrial group (Case New Holland). This role involved extensive travelling throughout Europe, and into Asia carrying out new product training on the latest tractors and equipment being released by CNH, which also included time spent with the European demonstration team.

Kyle explained: “This was a great role, it provided a super grounding. Over 15 years later, I still use the experience gained in those early days in my career almost daily now. While based at Basildon, I met a group of sales staff from the New Zealand importer of CNH equipment, CB Norwood Distributors, that were on a European factory trip.

“Two years later, an opportunity arose in NZ as a new product specialist for the Norwood group, which I accepted and relocated to NZ. Within 18 months, another opportunity arose within the Norwood group, and I become the New Holland operations manager for NZ, looking after all aspects of the New Holland business throughout the country.

“This role I held for nine years, and was responsible for monthly manufacturing forecasting back to the various European production plants, to ensure product was manufactured and shipped to NZ at the right time, and with the correct specifications as ordered by our customers. The dynamics of the NZ market are varied, and volumes can fluctuate up to 25% yearly due to the dependence of the many export markets that New Zealand operate in, which are hugely affected by exchange rates and trade deals at any given time, coupled with seven to nine months lead time on product, which all keep you on your toes.”

During the past 15 years Kyle has moved into various roles across the Norwood business, from executive brand manager, with overall responsibility for all the brands Norwood brings into the country, and currently as strategic business manager, which involves liaising with some of the largest farming groups across NZ for their machinery requirements, which include government, horticulture, viticulture and investment companies. “Not a day in any of my roles is the same, and I can be found quite often travelling the length and breadth of New Zealand in any given week of the year. Norwood is a great company to work for, fantastic opportunities to get involved in, and a fantastic positive industry to be involved in.” However, Kyle states: “You work just as hard here as any other country, but you have the added bonus, of a great country, great climate and great people to do it with.”

Additionally, Kyle is vice-president of the TAMA (Tractor and Machinery Association), which is the industry body that represents all things agricultural equipment across NZ – again another great opportunity to make difference in the agricultural equipment industry.