Kennards Hire Announces Changing of the Guard, CEO Bill Whitehouse Steps Down

Kennards Hire chief executive officer, Bill Whitehouse, has announced he is stepping down after five years leading the iconic family-owned equipment hire company. Having taken on the CEO role in 2020, Bill said it was time to hand over the reins. 

Bill officially steps down as CEO in April 2025 after more than 35 years with the business. Following a brief sabbatical during which he will spend time with his family and indulging in his passion for travel, Bill will return as a non-executive director of the Kennards Hire Board in August 2025.

Throughout his tenure as CEO, Bill has successfully delivered sustainable growth, leading the equipment hire company through the tumultuous years of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic climate. During this time, the family-owned company flourished with 17 business acquisitions and six greenfield branch openings, resulting in 26 new branches, growing the network from 195 branches to 215, and a 65% increase in revenue since FY20.

Those tangible results aside, with a recent employee engagement survey showing 92% of staff think the company is a ‘great place to work’, Bill said his proudest achievement is having been the custodian of the unique Kennards Hire culture which spans more than 1,900 team members across two countries.

“Kennards Hire is truly a great place to work and I’m incredibly proud of our people – from Kununurra to Queenstown – who go above and beyond every day in helping to shape the business we have today. It’s their drive to deliver outstanding customer service and the energy they all invest in building a culture of care, collaboration, and continuous improvement that makes Kennards Hire such a special place.”

Recently appointed Kennards Hire Board Chair, Margie Haseltine, said, “The Kennards Hire board and Kennard family are thankful for Bill’s dedicated leadership, not only in his recent years as CEO, but also over the last 35 years as a committed and pivotal member of the Kennards Hire team. We are delighted he will continue to make a positive impact as a non-executive board member.”

Following the company’s philosophy of strong succession planning and promotion from within, Stuart Dean, currently Chief Operations Officer, will officially take the CEO role in April.

An industry veteran, Stuart has worked in the equipment hire industry for over twenty years. He came to Kennards Hire as Group IT Program Manager in 2009, leading the company’s Baseplan front-counter implementation. In 2016, he was promoted to the leadership role of General Manager of IT until 2017, when Stuart and his family moved north to take up the challenging Queensland General Manager role. In 2019, Stuart made the move back to Sydney when he accepted the position of Chief Operations Officer.

Outgoing CEO, Bill Whitehouse, said, “Having held numerous roles across the Kennards Hire business, Stuart brings his wide knowledge and experience to the CEO role. Leveraging his expertise, vision, and commitment to our values, I have no doubt the company will continue to flourish under his safe set of hands.” 

Margie Haseltine congratulated Stuart on his appointment, “We warmly welcome Stuart Dean into the CEO role. With his proven track record of driving innovation and growth within Kennards Hire, including our industry-first After Hours Returns service, we have full confidence in him as he guides the business through our current strategic cycle and beyond.”