An Introduction
RMS is led by Executive Director Rick Hellings, an experienced Christchurch based businessman with a proven and successful track record in business management.
Having qualified as an Accountant and gained valuable retail experience working as CFO under Noel Leeming, in 1990 Rick joined Christchurch based Smiths City Group (In Receivership) as an Independent Contractor. He worked with the Receivers, Creditors, Financiers and Customers to negotiate the Company through receivership and a Scheme of Arrangement to where, by the end of 1998, it had repaid its debt and relisted on the Stock Exchange – an unprecedented business success story.
In 1999 Rick was then appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive of the new public company, Smiths City Group Limited. Rick was CEO for sixteen years thus gaining extensive experience across all areas of Management (retail, finance and property), Governance and Stakeholder relationships.
During his time as CEO/MD the company enjoyed profitable growth and success across all its operations. The Company was consistently profitable and paid a dividend to shareholders during every year of Rick’s tenure.
In 2015 having successfully negotiated the extensive impacts of the Christchurch earthquakes Rick decided the time was right for him to step aside from Smiths City leaving the company in a strong financial position. Given his own strong view that long term ex-CEOs should not “hang around” he also stepped down from all the Company Boards.
Rick has a degree in Economics from University College Cardiff and is a qualified accountant. His achievements in business have been recognised by his peers having been made a Fellow of both the New Zealand Institute of Management and the Chartered Accountants Institute of Australian and New Zealand.
