Douglas Ritchie had a business career that evolved from electrical engineering into senior management and executive roles with prominent New Zealand companies from the 1960s to the early 2000s.

Douglas trained and qualified in electrical engineering from 1949 to 1957 through cadetship with the State Hydro Electricity Department (later, New Zealand Electricity Department) and United Kingdom graduate apprenticeship programme.

He worked for the New Zealand Electricity Department until 1959. In 1960, Douglas joined Cable Price Corporation as Contract Engineer. He became General Manager in 1970, Managing Director in 1975 and retired in 1988.

Douglas served on numerous Boards of Directors from 1970 to 2004 in the automotive, financial investment, transport, power, construction and scientific research sectors.


Access

This interview is held at the Alexander Turnbull Library OHInt-0965-06

Date of Interview: 2011