Warren Kitney – Field Service Manager
Our Longest-Serving Team Member
No one at SGE has been here longer than Warren Kitney, Field Service Manager — his story goes right back to the early days.
Warren first met Ron Gordon (Steve’s Dad) at Gordy’s Bar. “Once Ron found out I was in the forklift industry, he said, ‘Come work for us!'” he laughs. “I did a Saturday with Brice at Cavalier Carpets, must’ve got the tick of approval. I then asked Steve to hold the job for me while I finished a big project in Fiji putting together a Lees D65.”
His love of machinery started young. “From the age of four I wanted to go to work with my dad (JK). There were forklifts, cranes, and all sorts of heavy gear moving around. As I got older, I got to operate plenty of it — forklifts, trucks, cranes, swing lifts — things you probably couldn’t do today!”
“The early days at SGE were great,” he says. “We’ve always had awesome customers, and the company’s grown massively since then.”
What’s kept him here? “Having a good grounding in one brand, then learning each new model — especially the electrical side. Finding and fixing faults is really rewarding.”
Career Highlights
Warren’s seen huge changes over the years — especially in health and safety. “Learning electrics and their coding was a highlight,” he says. And while he’s had plenty of career wins, his proudest achievement is simple: “Having kids.”
He credits a few key mentors: “My dad for his work ethic; Ron and Colin in the early days; Dennis Mac for bouncing ideas; and Lloyd Williams — the GOAT when it comes to diagnostics.”
These days, Warren’s mostly in the office — looking after field service techs, quoting, invoicing, and fielding customer calls. “It’s a high-pressure role balancing customer needs, techs, and the office,” he says. His problem-solving approach? “Look at it from all angles — if it’s happened before, can we improve or upgrade it?”
Reflections & Advice
“The biggest lesson? Own your mistakes — they happen from time to time.” Warren reckons the company culture has stayed strong even as SGE’s grown. His advice to newcomers: “It’s ok to start at the bottom. Learn from those with experience — SG is a great place to work with great people.”
Outside of Work
Outside the office, Warren enjoys family time, touch rugby, masters league, woodworking, and fishing. Looking ahead, he’s focused on “healthy kids and family — and maybe a small boat for some day-trip fishing.”
