We are deeply saddened to learn of Brian Gaynor’s death. He was a huge presence in the NZ business community for 30 years+ and a big supporter of IBNNZ. He was a stockbroker, sharemarket analyst, co-founder of Milford Asset Management, and long-time Herald & BusinessDesk columnist.
He has worked in the New Zealand business world for almost 30 years as a stockbroker, stock market analyst, co-founder of Milford Asset Management, and long-time columnist for Herald and BusinessDesk.
Gaynor was a courageous supporter for New Zealand firms and the local stock market, who died this morning following a brief illness. He opposes foreign takeovers and frequently cranes his neck to reject bids when a large sum of money appears to be on the table.
Kiwis underestimating themselves and their companies is a constant theme in his writings. He urged New Zealanders to adopt longer investment horizons. From selling Lion Nathan to disbanding Fletcher Challenge to trying to buy Oakland International Airport and Infratil, Gaynor has been in the middle.
As a journalist and writer, Gaynor has an extraordinary investigative ability and memory of business events that few can match. His columns are all about building the strongest arguments, listing all the facts before making a judgment, usually in the last few paragraphs. But his tongue-in-cheek Irish wit always lurks beneath the surface. In his final column for the 2019 Herald, he noted his commitment to two core principles.
The first never missed a deadline because he felt he might lose his job to another writer – even if he was in a class like this, which is impossible. Another principle is to never use the words “I” and “I”. He was determined to distance his ego from the story and let the facts speak for themselves.
Brian Gaynor, stockbroker and sharemarket analyst, Death and Cause of Death
