Ross Black

With over 40 years in the plumbing industry, Ross Black is a name that needs no introduction. Ask anyone who is anyone in the trade and they’ll know him, most likely as “Tinky.”

Ross spent more than 20 years with Aqualine before following Darren Waith to Plastec NZ when Darren sold the business and started fresh. It says a lot about the man that his loyalty, and his customers’ loyalty to him, carried across without missing a beat.

Ross has a huge following throughout the South Island. When he walks into a plumbing merchant, it’s like Norm walking into the bar in Cheers: everybody knows his name, and everybody’s glad he’s there. His accolades speak for themselves. He has been nominated for Sales Rep of the Year many times and has taken the title home on two occasions.

Life Outside Work

Before his sales career, Ross was a talented rugby player. He turned out for Alhambra in Dunedin as a young man and went on to become a top representative player. These days, you’ll find him on the sideline on a Saturday afternoon, cheering on his local team, Kaikorai.

Ross is a keen cyclist, though a recent run-in with a lamppost (the lamppost won) kept him off the bike for many months. He’s now back on his feet and happily spending his time with his four grandchildren, passing on the many skills he’s picked up along the way.