Volpower, New Zealand’s Volvo Penta distributor, stays in family hands as Antoni Tisot becomes Managing Director and Laura Tisot (née Holyoake) joins as Director of Marketing and Brand.
After 23 years as Managing Director, Wayne Patten is stepping back from the day-to-day running of Volpower at the end of November. Wayne stays on the Volpower board and will continue to advise the team, so his knowledge of the business, the product and the industry stays close at hand.
Wayne has worked in New Zealand’s marine industry for more than 28 years. Under his leadership Volpower was named Volvo Penta Importer of the Year in 2019, and he gave many years to the wider industry as head of NZ Marine’s Large Engine sector group.
“It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to lead Volpower NZ Ltd for the past 23 years, representing Volvo Penta in our beautiful country.
“My heartfelt thanks to the dedicated employees who have worked alongside me, and to the Holyoake family and Board of Directors for their encouragement and support over nearly 33 years across two businesses.
To our nationwide Marine and Industrial dealer network, thank you for your cooperation and feedback. To our committed boat builders and customers, thank you for your loyalty to Volvo Penta.
I’m immensely proud of the team’s many Global and Oceania Sales and Service awards, alongside the achievements of our dealers and apprentices.
It’s time to step aside and welcome a new generation and new technology. The business remains in very capable hands, and I wish my successors all the best.
I’m sure I won’t stay away from boat shows for long, so I look forward to seeing many of you along the way. Signing off. Wayne Patten.”
Volpower remains a family business. The Holyoake family has owned it for more than 35 years, and Antoni and Laura now take the helm as the next generation. Both grew up boating and sailing, and still spend much of their spare time on, in or under the water with their young family.
“Volpower has strong foundations: world-class products and technology in Volvo Penta and Humphree, and a team with a huge depth of technical and industry knowledge,” says Antoni. “We’re excited for what’s next: bringing the best of what Volvo Penta and Humphree have coming to New Zealand and the Pacific, and continuing to step things up in terms of how we look after our customers.”
Antoni has spent his career helping businesses improve how they operate, deliver for customers and grow. He started in heavy construction and industrial services, leading innovation at Downer NZ, and was part of the early team at EquipmentShare, now Nasdaq-listed and one of the largest equipment hire businesses in the US, with dealership and service arms alongside. He also founded ELab, which helps businesses use AI and technology to empower their people and serve customers better.
Laura has spent her career in brand and marketing, working in advertising with Jaguar Land Rover, Vodafone and Burger King before joining Shopify, where she helped large businesses grow online and ran events and training across Asia Pacific. At Volpower she will lead the brand, events and communication with dealers and customers.
“We know our dealers, boat builders and customers are passionate about what they do, on the water and off it,” says Laura Tisot. “Whether it’s a Volvo Penta in a trailer boat or a superyacht, a ferry or a fishing boat, or an industrial operation, we want everyone who relies on it to love the product experience and feel well looked after. That means hearing from us more often, with useful information and a few good Kiwi stories along the way.”
About Volpower
Volpower NZ Limited has been the authorised Volvo Penta distributor for New Zealand and the South West Pacific since 1992. Through a network of more than 30 dealers it supplies engines, parts, service and technical support to marine leisure, marine commercial and industrial customers. Volpower also distributes Humphree, Racor and Pyrotek.
