Congratulations to Arneil who is our new Senior Application Engineer in the Client Services team.
 
As Senior Application Engineer, Arneil is now the main point of contact for our support customers with enquiries and will also work as part of Client Services to deliver customer training and other client services offers. Arneil is also our Product Specialist and is the lead connection between Quasar and our suppliers, maintaining relationships, documentation, and news.
 
Arneil has been with Quasar for 10 years and has an extensive range of knowledge of our clients and their systems, as well as our products, and so was the perfect choice when we were looking for an engineer to join Client Services. He will continue to work with the engineering team on selected projects as well as continue to be our Lab Coordinator.
 
Our Client Services team was formerly called the Sales and Marketing team. The new name and slight change in structure reflects an increasing emphasis we’ve been making on the importance of being client focused and ensuring we support our clients in meeting their goals. Having Arneil in the Client Services team means we are able to provide a consistent contact person for our support customers with engineering related enquiries, improve the efficiency of resolving enquiries and offer the rest of the Client Services team easier access to an engineer for technical assistance.
 
We have a few more changes in the works that will be announced in 2021, as we’ve taken on board feedback from our clients about their needs and products that may be valuable to them. We’re looking forward to sharing these with you so keep an eye out for these.

We’re thrilled to welcome Andrea Baldin to the Quasar team, as our Industrial Programmer. Andrea is responsible for supporting and enhancing our existing range of software solutions including our dedicated load control application, Quasar Control, and our suite of add-on modules for PME. He will also be responsible for continuing to develop new complementary solutions for our customers and market, as well as overseeing the development of our project engineers to expand their database and programming skills.
 
Andrea gained his Industrial IT Diploma in Italy in 1986 and started working in the industrial automation industry as a software developer. After gaining further IT qualifications, he became a IT consultant for city councils and then moved to design and develop IT solutions as well as teaching IT at the Technical Institute. Andrea relocated to Hamilton in 2013 and held various positions before his most recent role at ASB Bank. He has recently moved to Christchurch to join our team as well as follow his dream to ski in winter and ride a motor bike to the beaches in summer.
 
On weekends, Andrea can be found tramping, skiing, riding, fishing or any other outdoor activities.

We’re excited to have welcomed another face to the Quasar team – Olivier Casalta. Olivier is our new project engineer and will be responsible for developing, designing and commissioning energy and power management systems using a range of Schneider Electric products.
 
After graduating with an Engineering Degree, specialising in mechatronics, Olivier worked for Alstom (and later GE Power & Water) in Estonia, France and Algeria, where he was responsible for power plant electrical works.  After moving to Christchurch three years ago, Olivier has gained further experience with commissioning and testing building management systems for a variety of large construction projects.

In his spare time, Olivier can be found at the top of mountains, admiring the great views or at the bottom of the ocean catching ika and koura.
 
Welcome Olivier!

We’re excited to welcome the newest member of the Quasar team, Leanne Chapman, who joins us as our Finance and Operations Manager. Leanne has a wealth of experience in accounting and operations and is responsible for overseeing Quasar’s day-to-day finance and operations activities and performing financial analysis, reporting and management activities. Leanne says, "I am thrilled have joined the Quasar team and to work alongside such committed and collaborative people!"
 
Leanne graduated with a Diploma in Accountancy & Management in Ireland before starting as an Assistant Accountant with In1 Solutions, a software development company. After working up to CFO, Leanne relocated to New Zealand in 2004 where she set up a New Zealand branch for In1 and become General Manager. Along with her business partner, Leanne then set up Redcow Marketing, which helped people grow their businesses online.
 
Six years ago, Leanne relocated to Christchurch and has since held GM roles in the professional services industry with Cambridge Partners and Moore Stephens Markhams.
 
On weekends, you can find Leanne spending time with family and friends and maybe rehearsing for her latest musical theatre project, as a member of CentreStage Rolleston.

Quasar is excited to welcome John to our team. John joins us in the role of Business Development / Technical Sales. He will be responsible for business development and account management for selected Quasar clients across New Zealand and internationally.
 
John brings many years of experience with mission critical solutions. As an award-winning international business development operator, John is passionate about taking solutions developed in Christchurch to the world. Coming from an engineering background and working through to senior sales and marketing roles, John is dedicated to putting the end user at the centre of all aspects of solutions provision. This focus has been sharpened in working closely with organisations all over the globe.
 
Richard Schwass, our Managing Director says, “I am really excited about John joining our team and I am certain that our customers are going to enjoy interacting with him. John joins us at a real turning point for the company as we increase our focus on delivering state of the art energy management solutions to the markets we serve.”
 
Prior to joining Quasar, John worked in business development management for Mimomax Wireless, working with power utilities delivering truly innovative communications solutions for protection, SCADA and telemetry. Previously, John has held a number of senior roles, managing strategic customers and opening new markets with Tait Communications.
 
John states “The energy sector is in a real time of change, challenge and disruption.  I see Quasar Systems as perfectly placed to deliver real value to customers, to bring resilience and efficiency and put them ahead of the curve in these changing times.”

Quasar Systems has welcomed Richard Fry to the role of Operations Manager. Richard is based at Quasar’s Christchurch office and will be responsible for leading all operational aspects of the business, including the maintenance of contractual relationships and internal systems.

Over the last eighteen years, Richard has worked consistently in leadership and customer facing roles within a range of infrastructure and technology focused organisations. His knowledge and skills in leading the delivery of complex systems and services will be an asset to Quasar as the company continues to grow and develop.

Richard replaces Paul Le Fevre who previously held the role. Paul's experience and leadership within Quasar was highly valued and we thank Paul for his contributions to the company.
 
Richard Schwass, Quasar’s Managing Director says, “We are all really excited that Richard is joining our team. He brings a unique set of skills and experiences that will have a real impact on the business and I look forward to what we are going to be able to achieve with his input.”
 
Prior to joining Quasar, Richard worked in customer management, sales and marketing at Airways, where he was focused on the provision of complex systems and services to the aviation sector. Previously he has also held several appointments at Tait Communications, within product development and the services team.
 
Richard Fry states: “I am very much enjoying being part of the Quasar Team. This is an exciting time for the sector with boundless opportunities for efficiency and modernisation.”