Livingstone names Ash Burkhart as Chief Executive Officer

Livingstone Building has appointed Ash Burkhart Chief Executive Officer, putting an internal executive at the head of the family-owned construction company.

Burkhart steps into the role after 18 months as General Manager for the upper North Island, where he oversaw teams across Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Taupō and Rotorua.

The appointment comes as the business approaches eight decades of trading. It reports annual turnover of more than $200 million and has 55 active sites from Wellington to Silverdale.

Burkhart has been involved in several major projects delivered by the contractor in recent years, including Fonterra's North Bloc headquarters in Hamilton; The Hive student health and wellness centre for St Paul's Collegiate; the Tauhara College redevelopment in Taupō for the Ministry of Education; Te Kete Aronui Rototuna Library for Hamilton City Council; and Fletcher Wood Products' Laminex OSB plant in Taupō.

Livingstone works across education, industrial, commercial and healthcare construction. Current projects include McDonald's Central in Hamilton, the Otumoetai College design and build project in Tauranga, Kinloch Village Centre in Taupō, and Roberts Line Distribution Centre in Palmerston North.

The company employs more than 200 people and operates from five regional offices across the North Island. It has built long-term relationships with clients including the Ministry of Education and McDonald's.

In comments accompanying the appointment, Burkhart outlined his priorities as the business continues to expand.

"My vision has always been for Livingstone to be the employer of choice. We're a people business, not just a construction company, and everything we deliver depends on the people we have out on our sites every day," said Ash Burkhart, Chief Executive Officer, Livingstone.

He said the company also needed to preserve established relationships while improving how projects are delivered.

"We want to keep building on the relationships that got us here and find better ways to do it for our clients, whether that's through the people we hire, the technology we use, or how we value-engineer a project," Burkhart said.

Burkhart added that a key part of the role would be maintaining the company's family culture as it grows.

"We want our clients to know who our teams are and to enjoy the journey with us, and that's something we're determined not to lose as we grow," he said.

Board Chair Andrew Johnson backed the internal promotion, saying the board viewed Burkhart as well placed to lead the company.

"The Board is pleased to appoint Ash Burkhart as Chief Executive Officer. Ash is a respected leader with a great understanding of our business, our people, and the opportunities ahead. We have every confidence in his ability to lead the company through its next phase of growth and success," Johnson said.

The leadership change keeps control of the business with an executive developed internally rather than an external appointee, signalling a preference for continuity as Livingstone manages a broad pipeline of work across multiple regions and sectors.

That pipeline reflects the mix of public and private sector construction that has shaped the company's recent activity. Education projects feature prominently alongside industrial and commercial developments, giving the business exposure to clients ranging from local authorities to manufacturers and national brands.

Livingstone's footprint remains concentrated in the North Island, but its live projects span a wide geographical area. Managing that spread while maintaining delivery standards and labour capacity now falls to Burkhart as he moves from regional operational oversight to the top executive role.