Nicky Watson
Encyclopedia
Eric Watson born 1959 in Christchurch
, New Zealand
is a global businessman, now resident in London. In 2011 the National Business Review
listed Watson as the 30th richest New Zealander with a wealth of $NZ220 million.
in Christchurch
and later earned a diploma of general management from Auckland University .
His first job on leaving school was as a butcher's apprentice. He later became a sales and branch manager at Whitcoulls
and then a manager for Xerox
. Watson held several senior positions within the Xerox Corporation President of Operations for Australasia.
Watson has previously been married to Nicole ("Nicky") Watson, a model and minor celebrity
(who now uses the name Nicola Robinson). He has two young sons with his Swedish partner, model Lisa Henrekson.
In 2010 Watson broke his back on a skiing holiday in Switzerland
He bought Blue Star Group in 1992. It took over Whitcoulls and other companies and was then sold to US Office Products in 1996, making NZ$150 million for Watson. Since then he has bought and sold numerous other businesses.
bought Elders Finance in 1999. Elders, and a number of other finance companies, were brought together to create Hanover Group. In July 2008 the finance companies within Hanover Group froze repayments, suspending acceptance of new deposits. Hanover paid dividends of NZ$41 million in the 2007 financial year and NZ$45.5 million in the 2008 financial year. In the 2008 financial year, NZ$68.5m was contributed to Hanover by entities associated with Watson and Hotchin. Hanover was New Zealand's third largest finance company at the time.
In December 2009 Hanover Group debenture holders, note holders and bond holders voted in favour of swapping their debentures, notes and bonds for shares in Allied Farmers Limited (NZX: ALF). This transaction resulted in ALF assuming the net asset position of the Hanover Group finance companies.
Watson has actively invested his own capital in a range of mergers and acquisitions. Cullen's primary focus is development of its international portfolio, which includes interests in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Bendon
Through Cullen Investments Watson owns Bendon Lingerie. First launched in New Zealand, the company now has sales channels in Australia, US, UK, Europe and the UAE. The brand includes ranges from Elle Macpherson who helped launch the brand into the UK and Europe, and Stella McCartney.
New Zealand Warriors
Through Cullen Investments Watson bought a 75% stake in New Zealand’s Warriors Rugby League Club in 2000, which competes in the Australasian National Rugby League (NRL) and is New Zealand’s largest and highest-profile privately owned sporting franchise.
Cullen Agricultural Holdings
Cullen Agricultural Holdings is an 85% owned subsidiary of Cullen Investments of which Watson is chief executive and chairman. The business planned to use New Zealand farming techniques to cut costs on as much as 16,000 hectares of mainly dairy farmland in the US. Some land has been divested with the proceeds repaying capital invested by Cullen Holdings.
Real Estate
Cullen has an international property portfolio, including commercial assets and residential development, predominantly in New Zealand, the US and UK. Major assets in New Zealand include Westbury Estate, while offshore investments include an upmarket property portfolio in London.
Watson Foundation
The Watson Foundation is a charitable trust established by Cullen Investments. The main objectives of the Watson Foundation are to enrich the lives of underprivileged children and young people and assist with their needs, including care, support, protection, health and education. The foundation sponsors charities such as The First Tee of New Zealand.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
is a global businessman, now resident in London. In 2011 the National Business Review
National Business Review
The National Business Review is a weekly New Zealand newspaper aimed at the business sector. The paper is owned by Barry Colman who also publishes the Grocers Review and several other small trade publications....
listed Watson as the 30th richest New Zealander with a wealth of $NZ220 million.
Personal
Watson attended Xavier CollegeCatholic Cathedral College, Christchurch
Catholic Cathedral College, Christchurch is an integrated Catholic co-educational secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was founded in 1987 but its origins go back to more than a 100 years earlier...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and later earned a diploma of general management from Auckland University .
His first job on leaving school was as a butcher's apprentice. He later became a sales and branch manager at Whitcoulls
Whitcoulls
Whitcoulls is a major national bookstore chain in New Zealand, formerly known as Whitcombe & Tombs. It has 62 stores nationally. Whitcombe & Tombs was founded in 1888, and Coulls Somerville Wilkie in 1871. The companies merged in 1971 to form Whitcoulls...
and then a manager for Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
. Watson held several senior positions within the Xerox Corporation President of Operations for Australasia.
Watson has previously been married to Nicole ("Nicky") Watson, a model and minor celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
(who now uses the name Nicola Robinson). He has two young sons with his Swedish partner, model Lisa Henrekson.
In 2010 Watson broke his back on a skiing holiday in Switzerland
Businesses
He left Xerox in 1992 to start Blue Star Group, a retail and distribution business. He held the position of founding chairman and largest shareholder and eventually grew the start-up to over US$90 million in revenues. In 1996, Blue Star Group was sold for US$68 million to Nasdaq-listed US Office Products, a diversified supplier of a broad range of office products and business services to corporate customers. Watson oversaw the expansion of USOP throughout Australasia and the growth of its Australasian operations to over US$870 million in revenue.He bought Blue Star Group in 1992. It took over Whitcoulls and other companies and was then sold to US Office Products in 1996, making NZ$150 million for Watson. Since then he has bought and sold numerous other businesses.
Hanover
Watson and business partner Mark HotchinMark Hotchin
Mark Stephen Hotchin is a New Zealand property developer and financier. He was a director of the Hanover Group which owned a number of finance companies including Hanover Finance, United Finance, Nationwide Finance and FAI Finance...
bought Elders Finance in 1999. Elders, and a number of other finance companies, were brought together to create Hanover Group. In July 2008 the finance companies within Hanover Group froze repayments, suspending acceptance of new deposits. Hanover paid dividends of NZ$41 million in the 2007 financial year and NZ$45.5 million in the 2008 financial year. In the 2008 financial year, NZ$68.5m was contributed to Hanover by entities associated with Watson and Hotchin. Hanover was New Zealand's third largest finance company at the time.
In December 2009 Hanover Group debenture holders, note holders and bond holders voted in favour of swapping their debentures, notes and bonds for shares in Allied Farmers Limited (NZX: ALF). This transaction resulted in ALF assuming the net asset position of the Hanover Group finance companies.
Cullen Investments
Watson founded Cullen Investments in 1995 and is currently the executive chairman of the international private investment company. The company has interests in the following sectors; fashion retail, financial services, agriculture, real estate and sports and entertainment.Watson has actively invested his own capital in a range of mergers and acquisitions. Cullen's primary focus is development of its international portfolio, which includes interests in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Bendon
Through Cullen Investments Watson owns Bendon Lingerie. First launched in New Zealand, the company now has sales channels in Australia, US, UK, Europe and the UAE. The brand includes ranges from Elle Macpherson who helped launch the brand into the UK and Europe, and Stella McCartney.
New Zealand Warriors
Through Cullen Investments Watson bought a 75% stake in New Zealand’s Warriors Rugby League Club in 2000, which competes in the Australasian National Rugby League (NRL) and is New Zealand’s largest and highest-profile privately owned sporting franchise.
Cullen Agricultural Holdings
Cullen Agricultural Holdings is an 85% owned subsidiary of Cullen Investments of which Watson is chief executive and chairman. The business planned to use New Zealand farming techniques to cut costs on as much as 16,000 hectares of mainly dairy farmland in the US. Some land has been divested with the proceeds repaying capital invested by Cullen Holdings.
Real Estate
Cullen has an international property portfolio, including commercial assets and residential development, predominantly in New Zealand, the US and UK. Major assets in New Zealand include Westbury Estate, while offshore investments include an upmarket property portfolio in London.
Watson Foundation
The Watson Foundation is a charitable trust established by Cullen Investments. The main objectives of the Watson Foundation are to enrich the lives of underprivileged children and young people and assist with their needs, including care, support, protection, health and education. The foundation sponsors charities such as The First Tee of New Zealand.
External links
- "Nicky Watson laid bare", TVNZ interview
- http://www.nickywatson.co.nz/
- Nicky Watson hooks up with more controversy 25 August 2007