Turners & Growers (T&G) has announced a host of new appointments to its board and upper management, which see many of the group’s outgoing New Zealand staff replaced by representatives from new majority shareholder BayWa.
As expected, BayWa’s chief financial officer Andreas Helber has joined the T&G board, and CEO Klaus Josef Lutz has stepped in as chairman, replacing Rob Campbell.
The company has also appointed Sir John Anderson and John Wilson as independent directors, both big names in the New Zealand business world.
“Sir John brings a wealth of experience to the T&G board from a long career in banking, as an advisor to governments, chairman of PGG Wrightson Limited and chairman and director of a number of other publicly listed companies and public sector entities,” Lutz said in a statement this afternoon (3 April).
“We are also pleased that Mr Wilson, a Fonterra director, Nuffield scholar and dairy farmer will be able to contribute his expertise in corporate governance and agribusiness. Mr Wilson is committed to producer cooperatives and therefore will bring new insights to our grower relationships.”
Replacing former CEO Jeff Wesley will be Geoff Hipkins, who will step into the position immediately. Hipkins has significant experience marketing New Zealand primary production in global markets, as well as overseeing the restructuring of a number of New Zealand companies.
BayWa’s head of Corporate Controlling, Harald Hamster-Egerer, will take up the role of chief financial officer with T&G, and the German company’s head of corporate business development, Dr Philipp Wahl, will become T&G’s chief operating officer.
The new appointments follow on from the resignations of Jeff Wesley, Brian D’Ath and Christina Symmans from T&G on 7 March.
Straight to business
Alongside the new appointments, T&G announced the board would begin an ‘optimisation review’ of the company’s entire operation. The review will focus on several specific areas; grower returns and relationships with the company, streamlining operations, an increased focus on Asian markets, and coordination with BayWa’s European distribution network.
“BayWa is willing to make available its supply chain expertise if that can bring significant benefits to T&G’s logistical and distributional functions,” said Lutz.
“BayWa’s experience in working in partnership with apple growers in Southern Germany may be particularly relevant to achieving sustainable returns for growers of New Zealand’s premium apple varieties.
“We believe that New Zealand is well placed to develop and produce apples to satisfy Asian demand. We see an excellent future for the industry given the efficiencies that can be achieved from consolidating distribution and logistics and working in closer partnership with growers.”
Lutz added the coordination of T&G and BayWa’s European operations could create new markets in the region for New Zealand produce, particularly lemons and blueberries.
