BRIAN GAYNOR: Hart hits the jackpot again while Watson flounders

Sat, 08 Feb 2020

It’s hard to believe but 20 years ago a major debate was whether Graeme Hart or Eric Watson would be New Zealand’s next business megastar.At the beginning of 2000, when Hart was 44 and Watson 40, they had both made their first $100 million and were in a mad rush to acquire further assets.It was a particularly interesting contest because the two rising stars had humble backgrounds. Hart had been a panel beater and tow truck driver in Auckland while Watson had been an apprentice butcher and office supplies sales rep in Christchurch.They were neck...

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