Meet the Team - Sean Connolly

Meet Sean Connolly

Loadout Supervisor at ANZCO Foods Kōkiri

Sean Connolly joined the Kōkiri team 15 years ago as a loadout supervisor. His role includes looking after export documentation, logistics, training for the Coldstore team, and - in a task that's unique to Kōkiri - oversees rail safety. At Kōkiri, a rail line runs through the site, so product gets loaded directly onto trains bound for Christchurch, and then onwards to Lyttelton Port, Green Island, or the Port of Tauranga. Sean helps to make sure this process runs smoothly and safely.

Before joining ANZCO, Sean was a shearing contractor and had his own business. When his son took over the business, he saw the loadout supervisor role come up and applied for it. He said it was helpful that he'd completed a level three IT course while he was off work due to knee reconstruction surgery, as this knowledge worked well for his new role. He says the role has expanded a lot in the time he's been here, and he now has an administration person to help him out. After being at ANZCO nothing surprises him - besides having lots of variety in his role, he was part of implementing CloudSuite at Kōkiri, so he's been able to see many parts of the business.

Outside of work, Sean enjoys whakairo wood carving, mainly giving away his carvings as gifts, and even took lessons with renowned wood carver Riki Manuel for a few years. Another passion of his is motorcycles; he used to race them, and unwinds after a busy day by going for a ride on his Indian. His claim to fame is that his name is similar to James Bond actor Sean Connery, and people make the comparison all the time. Sean is married with three children, a son and two daughters, and he has three grandchildren. He's been married for nearly 40 years!

Fun facts:

• What's your favourite knock knock joke?
  Knock knock
  Who's there?
  Lena
  Lena who?
  Lena little closer and I'll tell you…
• Marmite or Vegemite?
  Peanut butter
• Favourite movie of all time?
  Guy Martin's Need for Speed
• Favourite book of all time?
  Trainspotting
• Favourite quote?
  The less you have, the less you have to worry about