John Gilks - MNZM

1/6/2009

Well-known Otago businessman John Gilks (1955-59) was awarded the MNZM for services to business and the community in today’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, recognition the former Dunedin chartered accountant and Port Otago chairman says is humbling.

John Gilks

Now living in Wanaka, John says he was “taken aback by it really. It was a surprise. I felt very humbled by it and really privileged by it too, to have that honour bestowed."

After attending Otago Boys’ and the University of Otago, John became a partner in the firm of Gilks Low and Co. One of the first engagements he secured was secretary for the Motor Industry of Otago, leading to the formation of Motor Trade Finances in 1971. He eventually left his practice to become the full-time chief executive of Motor Trade Finances, leaving after a tenure which took him through to 1997.

Since leaving MTF, John has held at least 15 directorships, including of the National Bank, Electricity Corporation of New Zealand, Radio Otago and Dunedin City Holdings. He is deputy chairman of Fisher and Paykel Appliances and four other companies and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a distinguished fellow of the Institute of Directors.

He is also involved with the Dunedin Rhododendron Festival Trust, the Otago Air Ambulance Trust, the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation, the advisory board for Otago University, the Angels Upstart Advisory Board and New Zealand Business Mentors.

John says he enjoyed his work and had received great satisfaction out of everything with which he had been involved.

He has owned property in Wanaka for about 30 years and moved, with his wife Laurel, to the town full-time three years ago.