Leo Norich is the Chairman of UGT International, which he founded in 1988 as Universal Gift Traders.
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and strong relationship values, Leo grew the business from a small family operation into a respected name in the Australian retail sector. His commitment to integrity, quality and service continues to underpin UGT today.
Leo’s favourite aspect of the business has always been the strong, trusted relationships he has built with customers and overseas suppliers. Known for his genuine, honest and humble nature, he has earned deep respect across the industry and laid the foundations for the long-term partnerships UGT continues to nurture.
Today, Leo is incredibly proud to see the company in its second generation of leadership under his son, Adam. He often reflects that when he started the business in 1988, he never imagined it would still be thriving nearly 40 years later — let alone evolving into a modern, multi-brand business supplying some of Australia’s largest retailers.
His values, work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit remain deeply embedded in the DNA of UGT and continue to shape the company’s culture and long-term vision.
Adam Norich is the Managing Director of UGT International, a second-generation family business founded in 1988 by his father, Leo Norich.
Having grown up around the business, Adam developed a deep understanding of the industry from an early age and formally joined the business in 2003. Over the years, he has worked across all facets of the company, giving him a hands-on, end-to-end understanding of both the business and its customers.
Under Adam’s leadership, UGT has evolved from a traditional importer into a modern, brand-led and design-focused organisation. He has played a key role in building and strengthening UGT’s portfolio of owned and licensed brands, helping position the company as a trusted long-term partner to some of Australia and New Zealand’s largest retailers.
Adam is recognised for his practical, collaborative leadership style and his focus on long-term value creation rather than short-term gains. He is passionate about building strong teams, nurturing supplier and customer relationships, and ensuring UGT remains innovative, agile and relevant in a rapidly changing retail environment.
As a second-generation leader, Adam is committed to honouring the values and foundations of the family business while continuing to modernise and grow UGT for the next generation.