By Grant Shepherd

SYDNEY, NSW: It has now been officially confirmed that both Fisher & Paykel and Seeley International will distribute Haier branded products throughout Australia.

According to Haier Australia, the agreement was made to streamline efficiency and provide an accelerated growth of the brand throughout the country.

In June 2009, Haier announced a Memorandum of Understanding with Seeley International in regards to the distribution of its air conditioning products. Effective immediately, an agreement has now been signed which makes Seeley International the national distributor for the complete range of Haier refrigerated air conditioning products in Australia. This agreement includes both Haier domestic and commercial air conditioning product lines.

On 1 April 2010, a new agreement will also be in effect with Fisher & Paykel. This will be an extension of the high level co-operation agreement reached in June 2009, where Fisher & Paykel took over the distribution of Haier manufactured and branded white goods.

The new agreement confirms Haier’s commitment to the Australian market to provide better distribution and service by capitalising on the additional resources of Fisher & Paykel and Seeley International.

Richard Bowe has been appointed by Fisher & Paykel as general manager of Haier Australia. Prior to this, Bowe was general manager of Fisher & Paykel Appliances, UK and Europe.

Haier Australia will be managed separately to the Fisher & Paykel brand, with its own dedicated sales team. Fisher & Paykel has been responsible for Haier’s sales, marketing and customer care service in New Zealand since November 2009.

“Utilising the well established resources and structures of both Seeley International and Fisher & Paykel, Haier products will gain a greater market presence, distribution and a higher level of customer services, which will see a rapid growth of our business in Australia,” said Haier Australia CEO, Keith Allen.

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