Sir Angus Tait

Chairman, TAIT ELECTRONICS

Sir Angus Tait is one of New Zealand's most innovative business leaders and a cornerstone of this country's flourishing high-tech sector.

His schoolboy interest in electronics led to a remarkable 60 year career in radio communications. He left Oamaru Boys High School to work in a local radio store and later served with the RAF in radar and airborne communications during the Second World War. Returning to New Zealand he put that experience to good use, going into business designing and building mobile radio equipment. He recovered from the setback of receivership in 1968 to create his second company, Tait Electronics Ltd, which has grown to become one of the world's leading suppliers of a complete range of mobile radio equipment, with product in use in almost 100 countries.

Sir Angus has grown his company around the unusual business philosophy of reinvesting virtually all profit in research and development and the latest manufacturing technology. "Our technology is our sword. We keep it sharp and bright."

Sir Angus has rejected offers for his company from several international industry giants and has ensured all of the company's manufacturing is carried out here in New Zealand, rather than Asia where labour rates are cheaper. Several of New Zealand's other leading technology companies were founded by Tait people branching out on their own, promoting one such entrepreneur, John Croft, to term Sir Angus, "the giant oak of the New Zealand electronics industry."

Sir Angus continues to play a hands-on role with Tait Electronics in his capacity as company chairman.