Andrew Hooke has joined peak industry body Apple and Pear Australia (APAL) in the newly created role of director global development.
Reporting to APAL chief executive Phil Turnbull, Hooke has been tasked with growing the organisation’s commercial business on the world stage. This will include managing APAL’s intellectual property – including the APAL-owned Pink Lady trademark – in the Australian and global markets; providing a global export and brand strategy for the benefit of Australian growers; and implementing best-practice management practices within APAL.
“The emerging global market for branded varieties provides growers with potential new opportunities for specialised brand programmes and global export activity,” said Turnbul. “APAL is in a unique position in the global market to manage brands and enable and support growers to reap the future benefits of these emerging prospects. Andrew will lead this work.”
Set to take up the role in October, Hooke is currently serving as the general manager of group procurement and shared services with dairy food company Devondale Murray Goulburn. He previously served as Devondale’s acting general manager China. His employment history includes appointments across the food, IT, manufacturing, marketing and international trade sectors for companies both locally and internationally.
“I am excited by the opportunity to work in a complex organisation, with global stakeholders and relationships and a clear and exciting strategy,” Hooke said. “I am very much looking forward to working with Phil Turnbull and the staff at APAL and I’m sure we will make a great team.”
