Company History

The Gerard Lighting Group was founded by the Gerard family. The family has a long and successful history in the electrical and lighting industries.

Most notably, the Gerard family was the founder of the Clipsal business in Australia which began in 1920 and became one of the biggest electrical accessory brand names in the world. In 2003 the family sold its interest in the Clipsal business to Schneider Electric but retained a number of other non-electrical accessories businesses. One of those businesses retained by the Gerard family was Pierlite.

Pierlite was established during the 1950s initially specialising in adverse and hazardous lighting. Under the ownership of the Gerard family from the late 1980s, Pierlite has grown organically and through acquisition of businesses such as Moonlighting, Aluminium Louvre Company and CSE. Pierlite established a strategic alliance with Philips in March 2003 and continues to be a major distributor of Philips branded lamps to the Australian trade sector.

During FY2007, the Gerard Lighting Group embarked on a strategy of sourcing higher volume commodity lines from low cost manufacturing locations. It was at this time that Gerard Lighting Pty Ltd was established as the head company of the lighting business. In early 2008 Gerard Lighting Pty Ltd acquired ASX listed Lighting Corporation Limited to become the largest manufacturer, supplier and distributor of lighting products in Australia and New Zealand combined. This was a substantial acquisition for the Gerard Lighting Group that more than doubled its annual revenues.

Today the Gerard Lighting Group has a team of over 1,600 employees globally, representing a significant asset and a substantial competitive advantage to the Group. As the leading participant in the market, the Gerard Lighting Group has successfully assembled the most experienced team of lighting professionals operating in Australia and New Zealand. Each member of Gerard Lighting’s Executive Management Team has over 20 years’ experience in the lighting and electrical industry, complementing the Gerard family’s long history in the electrical industry. Gerard Lighting considers that the cumulative experience of the broader management team represents a significant competitive advantage to Gerard Lighting.

Approximately 80% of products sold carry brands that are wholly owned by the Gerard Lighting Group or are subject to exclusivity agreements. Total sales are split approximately 55% wholesale and 38% project or specification and 7% retail. Gerard Lighting Group’s in-house teams manage the research, design, manufacture, global sourcing, importation and distribution of its products.

Gerard Lighting Group is represented in all capital cities, states and territories in Australia and New Zealand. Under the Pierlite brand, Gerard Lighting’s offshore strategic investments include India, the Middle East, Indonesia and Malaysia. In addition, the Gerard Lighting Group has franchised operations in the United Kingdom, Pakistan, East Africa, Mozambique and Italy.

 1920: Alfred Gerard

The Clipsal brand name was born when Mr Alfred Gerard developed the ‘clips all’ size of adjustable conduit fittings suitable for all sizes of imported metal conduit.

1920-2003: Clipsal

Under the leadership of Alfred’s son, Geoff Gerard, the company initiated several manufacturing breakthroughs. In 1976 Geoff’s son, Robert Gerard AO, took over the business with plans to make Clipsal one of the biggest electrical accessory brands in the world. The Gerard family sold its interest in the Clipsal business in 2003 and retained non electrical accessories businesses such as Pierlite.

Established during the 1950s. The Pierlite logo depicted by the sun and the moon, two dominant sources of light control, demonstrates Pierlite’s vision to strive to create innovative and energy conscious lighting systems. Pierlite is now positioned as a market leader in Australasia for the design, manufacture and distribution of architectural and industrial commercial lighting systems.

2007: Gerard Lighting

In 2007, Gerard Lighting Pty Ltd was established as the head company of the lighting business.

2008: Acquired LCL

Gerard Lighting acquired Lighting Corporation Limited in early 2008 to become the largest lighting manufacturer and supplier in Australia. Gerard Lighting’s brand portfolio is the envy of the lighting industry incorporating Pierlite, Sylvania, Crompton, Moonlighting, Inlite and Austube – all of which are leading lighting businesses in their respective market segments.

2010: Initial Public Offering

The IPO of Gerard Lighting marked a new and exciting chapter in Gerard Lighting’s history, enabling the Group to further grow its brands and reputation to enhance shareholder value.