Published by Mary Egan Publishing
November 2026
Hardback, 176 Pages, RRP $30.00
ISBN: 978-1-991436-27-6
Available exclusively through The Icehouse
Alone is a book on business ownership and leadership by David Irving, co-founder of The Icehouse. It offers a practical, distinctly New Zealand perspective on growing your business, leading well, and making room for life beyond work.
New Zealand’s owner-managers are the backbone of the economy, yet many navigate leadership, growth and responsibility largely alone.
In Alone, David Irving draws on decades of experience at Wattie’s, the co-founding of The Icehouse, and 25 subsequent years working alongside SMEs across Aotearoa to offer a practical and distinctly New Zealand perspective on business leadership and management capability.
Part business memoir, part challenge and part championing of the owner-manager, the book explores life inside and outside the business. It offers strategies and practical advice covering topics that extend beyond business growth itself—from enduring business principles, aligned and misaligned ownership, and life beyond work to emerging challenges such as AI. Irving’s wider view examines the issues shaping modern business and the people behind it.
The book’s unique chapter formats add variety and depth. Irving converses with experts, writes letters and shares insights gained from a long career helping to shape New Zealand business.
Insightful, grounded and relevant, Alone is a thoughtful reflection on leadership, management, responsibility and the future of New Zealand enterprise.
“‘Alone’ speaks directly to the challenge that growth is never just about ambition—it requires capability, judgement and the ability to keep looking forward. David understands the responsibility carried by owner-managers: the isolation, the pressure, the opportunity, and the need to keep developing both the business and themselves. He brings together lessons from Wattie’s, The Icehouse and decades of leadership in a way that is practical, direct and highly relevant to New Zealand businesses.”
About the Author
David Irving has led a full life, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Across his 80 years, business and learning have been central to his life—enabled first by his parents and later by a full and happy family life with his wife, Jude. Their family grew to 10 and includes twin daughters Anna and Jennie and four grandchildren: Maddie, Tom, Jack and Charlie.
His early years revealed a keen student, an outgoing nature, a love of sport and an emerging capacity for leadership. He flourished as a boarder at Nelson College and while completing his BCA at Victoria University.
David’s working life took off with Wattie’s in Hastings, where he embraced the provincial life of a company that meant a great deal to New Zealand. His drive saw him advance through administration, marketing and sales before becoming General Manager of Wattie’s canned food business. Following the sale of Wattie’s to Heinz, David was appointed to lead the Wattie’s and Heinz food businesses across Australasia.
After 23 years at Wattie’s, he retired in search of a new journey. Following his appointment as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Auckland Business School, David co-founded The Icehouse. He has contributed to the organisation for 25 years—not out—supporting the owner-managers of New Zealand’s 600,000-plus SMEs.
His contributions do not stop there. He chaired his daughters’ school, Woodford House; co-founded a community leadership programme in the Waikato; invested, worked and drank plenty in the New Zealand wine industry; and governed or advised many SMEs and philanthropic services.
Not satisfied with all that, David has also written four books: Alone, It Must Be Wattie’s!, Changing Gears and Gearing Up.
For his contribution to New Zealand, David received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM), and was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.