It was 1986 when Gary Leech and a handful of ambitious accountants left their jobs to start an accounting firm that would prioritise people over numbers. Starting in an office in Ashburton with a small but mighty team, Leech & Partners was built on client success being the firm’s motivation, achieved through innovative personal service. From making pivotal decisions over morning tea to enjoying Friday beers together, the firm established a culture of camaraderie that persists four decades later.
What began with five staff members and a handful of clients has evolved into an accounting and business advisory powerhouse of over 50 professionals serving over 500 clients across two offices in Ashburton and Christchurch. This growth was fuelled by a commitment to agribusiness and commercial accounting excellence, as well as strategic expansions, including the purchase of additional practices and the pivotal establishment of the Christchurch office in 2001.
As the firm grew, Gary and his management team were determined to keep client relationships at the heart of their work. This dedication led the management team to hold an Accountants Boot Camp, where the team developed the firm’s Ten Commandments: a set of values focused on service, right down to how to answer the phone.
Leech & Partners’ 40-year journey has not been without its trials. The 2011 Christchurch earthquake stands as the hardest chapter in the firm’s history, resulting in the tragic loss of Partner, Philip McDonald. In the face of disaster, the team showed immense resilience, eventually relocating to a renovated office on Mandeville Street that was opened by the then Prime Minister, John Key. Throughout the highs and lows, the firm’s central goal remained unchanged: looking after their clients and each other.
Looking ahead, Leech & Partners is poised for another exciting 40 years ahead. With a strategic focus on expanding the firm’s professional network and investing in staff wellbeing and skills, the leadership team is committed to maintaining the firm’s legacy while adapting to the evolving needs of the community it works with and within.
After 40 years of service, Leech & Partners remains a trusted advisor to the agribusiness and commercial community. The firm enters its fifth decade with the same dedication to integrity, client and staff wellbeing, and the drive to add value together that started it all in 1986.
Your Team in 1994
Leech & Partners office in Ashburton
Directors in 2026
