Suzuki New Zealand’s executive general manager of motorcycle, marine and after sales, Simon Meade, died following a motor vehicle crash last week.
He had recently been appointed as part of a new three-person management structure at Suzuki New Zealand. The Executive Team comprised Meade, Chief Executive Officer Gary Collins and Liz Maddox-Strong, General Manager of Finance, Admin and IT.
With over 25 years of service at Suzuki, Meade was highly respected within the motorcycle industry and racing community.
In 2018, he added to his responsibilities, heading up the marine division when Suzuki New Zealand regained national distribution rights for its outboard motors. He viewed this as a positive move for the district, appointing Whanganui Engineering and Marine as the first of 25 dealers.
Meade was instrumental in securing brand sponsorship for motorcycle racers and events, including the 2024 Suzuki International Series. This featured three motorcycle rounds in December, culminating in the Boxing Day Street Race at the Cemetery Circuit in Whanganui.
In his spare time, he enjoyed boating, fishing, water skiing, and mountain biking.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
Addendum: from Suzuki New Zealand
Simon was far from just an employee and became a great friend and mentor to many of us at Suzuki New Zealand, our dealers, and everyone he dealt with. He was instrumental in Suzuki New Zealand’s success over the last 25 years and has been pivotal in helping make Suzuki the company we are today. Primarily involved in the Motorcycle Department, and more recently the reintroduction of Suzuki Marine and then Aftersales, he was someone who never stopped looking for and mastering any challenge that was put in front of him, always pushing himself and everyone around to be the best they could be.
Simon was also someone who never sat still, equally passionate about his work as he was about anything that moved – motorcycles, water skis, mountain bikes, cars, even model aeroplanes. But above all else he was totally devoted to his family – his wife Jenny, his sons Brent and Tennessee, his daughter Lily, his mother Sally, and his daughter in law Marie, supporting their dreams and pursuits anyway he could. Our thoughts and fond memories go out to Jenny and the extended family during this time.
It was an absolute pleasure working with you Simon and having the opportunity to get to know such an outstanding person. Your absence will leave a massive hole in our company and our lives.
You will be greatly missed.
We will advise when we have more information on the funeral arrangements.
