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Ashburton Toyota
Meet the team
Craig McDermid
Business Owner
My wife Kathie and I took ownership of Blenheim Toyota in 1990. Over the years I have taken ownership of South Canterbury Toyota, Rangiora Toyota, Kaiapoi Toyota and Ashburton Toyota. I split my time between them all, just as well I enjoy driving!
Will Hayde
Branch Manager
Will has come from a large background of sales and marketing. He is also from a big sporting family and has represented both his province and country in hockey. He has a huge understanding of the car industry and in his spare time is out and about trying to tire out his siberian husky.
Eddie Bakos
Senior Vehicle Sales Consultant
Eddie arrived from South Africa in June 2015 and started working for us in August. He worked for Mercedes Benz in Johannesburg for 12 years so has been able to transfer all his expertise to our branch. In his spare time he enjoys gardening and spending time with his grandchildren.
Robin McClimont
Vehicle Consultant
Robin has been with part of our team since 2017. As a sales consultant with over 30 years experience helping out Mid-Cantabrians, he is only too happy to discuss your vehicle requirements either at the store or can easily come out to you. When not at work he enjoys walking, cycling, travel and lots of family time.
Greg Howard
Service Manager
Greg has spent most of his working life in the auto industry, moving from a technician on multiple brands, out to the front desk at Toyota 6 years ago. He has been running workshops for over 6 years and moved to the Service Manager position at Ashburton Toyota in January 2021. A recent move to Ashburton for him and his family has meant that they have more time enjoy all the benefits of a Mid Canterbury lifestyle. In his spare time Greg enjoys soccer, snow and water skiing, family time and more recently wood working.
Pam McIlwrick
Service Team Leader
Pam started at Ashburton Toyota in 2013. She enjoys gardening, Hot Rodding and spending time with her grandchildren.
Nicole Cavill
Service Advisor
Nicole started with us in February 2019. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and camping, fishing and hunting down at Lake Benmore with her extended family and her big German Shepherd dog.
Daniel Trail
Service Foreman
Daniel joined our team as Service Foreman in January 2018, only a couple of months after moving to NZ from his hometown Perth in Scotland. Outside of work he enjoys motorcycling, hiking and camping.
Michael Cook
Technician
Born and bred in Ashburton Michael started with us in 2016, after working for TJM on the Gold Coast for 5 years. Previously he has worked for Nissan for 12 years. Outside of work he enjoys watching V8 car racing and rugby.
Ben Anger
Technician
Ben joined our team in September 2018, after making the move from Rangiora. In his spare time he likes spending time with his son and getting out for a spot of fishing and hunting.
Jarrod Ward
Technician
Jarrod was born and raised in Ashburton and started his apprenticeship with us in November 2017. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and riding motorbikes.
Marc Juantilla
Apprentice Technician
Marc joined our team by completing gateway at AshColl. In his spare time he enjoys playing basketball.
Craig Butterick
Vehicle Detailer
Born and raised in Ashburton, Craig started with Ashburton Toyota July 2020 as a vehicle detailer/Tyre fitter. Having previously worked in the tyre industry in the family business, he made the decision to change jobs when family business was sold. Craig’s passion outside of work is speedway and with the support of his family has raced a Ministock since he was 16.
Vicki Waddell
Vehicle Detailer
Vicki moved to Ashburton three years ago from Tokoroa and has been a part of the Ashburton Toyota team since August 2019. She describes the best part of her job as a vehicle detailer is that there is always something new to learn, and every day is different. Outside of work Vicki enjoys knitting, crochet, sewing, patchwork, diamond art and family time. She has three children and many grand-kids to keep her busy!
Andrew Rattray
Parts Manager
Andrew has been with us since 1996 and has seen many changes in the dealership. In his spare time he plays golf and enjoys a spot of fishing. He is also a volunteer in the Ashburton Fire Brigade.
Sam Rodgers
Parts Consultant
Sam started with us in 2016 and since then has completed a parts apprenticeship. In his spare time he enjoys tinkering with his cars and spending time with friends.
Eddie Bakos
Business Manager
Eddie arrived from South Africa in June 2015 and started working for us in August. He worked for Mercedes Benz in Johannesburg for 12 years so has been able to transfer all his expertise to our branch. In his spare time he enjoys gardening and spending time with his grandchildren.
Aya Matsumoto
Administration
Aya started with us in September 2018 and has been living in New Zealand since 2000. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband and dog.
Andy Wilson
Group General Manager Used Vehicles
Andy has a tremendous amount of experience in the Motor Industry beginning in the summer of 1990! After relinquishing the reigns of Branch Manager at South Canterbury Toyota in August 2018 he has taken on the well-deserved challenge of Group General Manager for Used Vehicles for the McDermid Group. This entails managing the used vehicle inventory for Blenheim, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Ashburton and Timaru branches. Andy and his wife Helen have a very full social life which includes spending a great deal of time with their four grandchildren.
Talei Dickson
McDermid Group Admin Manager
Originally from a hospitality background Talei moved to South Canterbury in 1996 from Wellington. She had a brief stint at Lake Tekapo before joining our team as our Business Manager. She then moved into admin in 2004. In 2015 Talei became our Group Admin Manager when Rangiora & Ashburton Toyota joined our group of South Canterbury & Blenheim Toyota. In her spare time Talei doesn’t enjoy running but Chris Ward & Sharon Wood make her do it from time to time. She does enjoy water and snow skiing, sewing and spending time with her daughter.
Chris Ward
Customer Relations and Marketing
Chris was born and raised in Timaru before heading on a rather extended (12 year) OE. After seeing most of the 'other side of the world' Chris returned to Timaru in 2006 and joined our team 3 days later! Chris’s background before joining South Canterbury Toyota was mainly in the banking sector. She enjoys skiing, running, kayaking and spending time with her daughters.
Samantha Christie
HR and Payroll
Born and bred in Ashburton, Samantha started with us in 2015 as a member of the Ashburton admin department. Samantha took a couple of years to start her own wee family but remained a familiar face as over the years she has covered for staff on annual and parental leave. In her spare time, she likes to go hunting and explore new places with her family.
Sandra Hansen
CRM and Marketing
Sandra joined the McDermid Auto Collective in 2020, when she relocated from Auckland to Blenheim. Originating from South Africa, she has a wealth of knowledge in communication and marketing having worked across many different sectors. Outside of work Sandra enjoys running, mountain biking, exploring Marlborough with her husband and dogs, and the occasional round of golf, when time permits.
April Dobbs
CRM
April has worked in the motor industry since 2011, joining the McDermid Group in 2016, where she worked in the Service Department as a Service Advisor and then moving into Customer Relations team. In her spare time, April enjoys spending time with her three children, making delicious food and going on mini adventures in the local area.
Paul Harford
Business Analyst
Paul has been in the Motor Industry since 2003 and comes from a background in Finance. Living in Kaiapoi, he and his family enjoy Waimak Football, camping, boating and the outdoors. Classics cars are also a time consuming and expensive passion.
