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Executive Team

Our mission is to create a legacy of important buildings for our community. Our vision is to make construction a better place and more enjoyable place to work. We take pride in our strong governance and leadership, so we can support our greatest asset to grow and thrive - our people.

Executive Team

André Lovatt

Chief Executive Officer

André Lovatt

André Lovatt

André has over 25 years of experience leading high-profile building and infrastructure projects and businesses in the Asia Pacific region. He joined Leighs from KiwiRail where he was Chief Infrastructure Officer. Before that he spent six years as the Chief Infrastructure Officer at Auckland International Airport leading the transformation of New Zealand’s largest international airport and connection to the world.
Before relocating to Auckland in 2018, André was the Chief Executive of the Arts Centre of Christchurch where he led the post-earthquake restoration and repositioning of the largest collection of heritage buildings in New Zealand.
Prior to his client-side roles, André was a Principal and Director of global design house, Arup, including ten years resident in Singapore where he led the recovery of the business and delivery of several very significant projects.
André is committed to creating safe and healthy work environments, value for clients and communities and believes that the quality of the built environment improves the lives of everyone.

David Jarman

Group Chief Financial Officer

David Jarman

David Jarman

David is the Group Chief Financial Officer at Leighs, with expertise in construction, finance, manufacturing, telecommunications and retail sectors, having worked in the UK, USA, Asia and New Zealand.
With his background in developing businesses, David’s experience has contributed to Leighs’ considered growth and sustainability as the company has expanded and taken on new projects throughout New Zealand.

Mike Knowles

Regional Manager - South Island

Mike Knowles

Mike Knowles

Mike has worked in the construction industry in Christchurch for the past 30 years and with Leighs for over 15.
As Regional Manager Mike oversees all operations and tenders for the South Island.

Sue Jensen

General Manager People and Culture

Sue Jensen

Sue Jensen

Sue is an accomplished HR professional with over 15 years of experience in senior or executive management roles within medium and large organisations.
Sue has a proven track record overseeing all HR functions, including employee relations, workforce planning, recruitment, remuneration, change management, culture transformation, learning and development, HR technology and system implementation. Her expertise helps drive the success of organisations and fosters a thriving workplace culture.

Kayla Porter

Executive Assistant to the CEO

Kayla Porter

Kayla Porter

Kayla is a highly experienced EA with over ten years in the construction industry. She possesses a keen interest in the strategy and processes behind running a successful construction company and has expertise in executive and board support. By anticipating the needs of executive teams, she demonstrates fierce loyalty and places great emphasis on confidentiality. Kayla is passionate about enhancing our business by supporting leaders and their vision.

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SENIOR LEADERSHIP

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THE BOARD

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