“Neil will be based in Christchurch initially and will be responsible for the sales of all Frontline products and services to the South Island region,” says Craig Paul, Managing Director of Frontline.
“We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Neil’s caliber and experience in the industry we are involved in. Neil has a great deal of respect from his customers with whom he has been involved over the years, as his enthusiasm and “out of the box” thinking enable him to create a great relationship, which is not based on a one-off sale, but rather a long term partnership.
“We at Frontline have endeavoured to be a ‘solution’ based company, and not a box drop provider, and Neil is going to be given all the scope he requires to achieve the goals which he has for himself and for Frontline. We are all extremely excited by the possibilities the South Island presents for our current and future customers, with Neil at the helm.”
Rattray has been involved in the printing industry all his working life. He began with a paper run, and was subsequently employed via apprenticeship with R D Lucas and Son – Nelson Evening Mail – as a machine typographer.
After his apprenticeship, Neil served two years with the Waikato Times, then returned to the Nelson Evening Mail, completing 24 years with the Lucas family.
This was followed by a ten-year period at Marlborough Express as Systems Manager, which was then managed by Roger Rose and Joe Hills. Neil then took up employment with Agfa-Gevaert NZ Ltd for 12 years, as Graphics Sales (S.I.) Representative, based in Christchurch.
Neil is now taking up the challenge of introducing Frontline Technologies Ltd to the unsuspecting previous clients of Agfa, and to others in the South Island!
Neil’s private interest is in maintaining a south suffolk flock of sheep on his hobby “life-style” farm in Loburn, North Canterbury, and in keeping the place in order. When the occasion arises he loves to go hunting, shooting, fishing, and gathering food.
Neil is the only known “one-eyed” person alive who does “high pruning” with a shotgun, and he has been known to win a “supply agreement” in a pair of pyjamas, whilst bartering a leg of venison and a 6lb. trout!
The Rattray family consists of Neil and his wife Annette, and their three grown-up children, as well as several grandchildren.
