Experienced industry leadership team takes helm at Lusty & Blundell

New L&B owners (from left) Morgan Brodie, Mark Milburn and Cameron Maher © Lusty & Blundell

Lusty & Blundell Ltd, New Zealand largest distributor of leading-brand marine industry products and systems, is now owned by CEO Mark Milburn, qualified boat builder and experienced businessman Cameron Maher and L&B OEM sales manager Morgan Brodie.

Founded in 1974 by marine industry stalwart Ken Lusty, Lusty and Blundell is renowned for providing premium products and practical solutions and proudly distributes many of the industry's most iconic brands.*

Mark Milburn, who becomes managing director, has been with L&B for more than 20 years, over 12 of those as CEO. Mark has a strong focus on both customer service and adding value has successfully steered the company through both the Global Financial Crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing the company's offering, forging new partnerships and building a strong and experienced management team. Highly respected in the industry, he has a strong background in the design and installation of sophisticated navigation and communication systems for superyachts, race yachts and race management teams, is a former New Zealand Laser Youth Champion and Olympic campaigner and holds an Economics degree.

Cameron Maher joins the company as sales director. With over 20 years' experience as a qualified boatbuilder, following an apprenticeship at the renowned Kennedy Marine yard, Cameron grew up fishing and diving the Hauraki Gulf before heading off to enjoy racing and cruising the world's oceans. With 15 years sales and marketing business ownership in Australia, he brings real life marine and marketing expertise and is excited to be able to join two career paths about which he is very passionate. As sales director, he will have a strategic role focussing on the marine, industrial and leisure sectors and leading L&B's 15-strong team of knowledgeable sales experts.

Morgan Brodie has worked in senior sales roles for 16 years, helped establish and run L&B's Tauranga branch and been an account manager for the lower North Island and parts of the South Island. With a strong focus on delivering a high level of growth, Morgan will continue as the company's OEM sales manager.

Mark Milburn says the new ownership structure will benefit from its enhanced leadership team and continue operating with a growth mindset framework.

"We will continue to grow and expand our premium brands, continue to remain agile and dynamic in a fast-changing environment and continue to enhance our team and our skill sets," he says. "This will ensure we continue to deliver service excellence to all of our customers, all of the time."

* Iconic brands proudly distributed in New Zealand by Lusty & Blundell include Raymarine electronics, Jabsco, Rule and Flojet pumps, Spinlock lifejackets, Raritan toilet systems, Ultraflex steering systems, Ocean Signal PLBs and MOB devices, CTEK charging systems, Haswing electric trolling motors, Sterling Power and AMPS lithium batteries, Bluefin LED underwater lights and much more.