Turners & Growers’ (T&G) managing director Jeff Wesley has announced his retirement, a change that could herald the end of an era for the New Zealand company’s management. Wesley has served as T&G’s managing director since May 2005, and along with now-retired chairman Tony Gibbs has been the face of the company’s campaign to deregulate the kiwifruit industry. Meanwhile, BayWa has announced its intention to replace current T&G chairman Rob Campbell with its own CEO, Dr Klaus Josef Lutz.
Additionally, Tina Symmans, an independent director of T&G since being appointed by former chairman Tony Gibbs in June 2008, and Brian D’Ath, the group’s executive director and global variety development manager, have both tendered their resignations following the news that BayWa’s takeover offer had been approved by New Zealand’s regulatory authority.
David Mixon, the senior vice-president and chief marketing officer of US group Seald Sweet International, has left the company.
Paul Begley, the boss of Irish fresh produce distributor Begleys who avoided paying €1.6m in customs duties on more than 1,000 tonnes of garlic, has been sentenced to six years in prison by a judge at a criminal court in Dublin.
Fyffes has made a new appointment to its board, with Jim O’Hara joining as a non-executive director with immediate effect. O’Hara, 61, is a former vice-president of Intel Corporation and general manager of Intel Ireland.
Pipfruit New Zealand has announced that Christchurch businessman Alan Pollard has taken over the helm from outgoing chief executive officer Peter Beaven. Pollard is new to the horticulture industry and boasts a background managing law firms.
Delhaize has said that Mats Jansson will step into the role of group chairman when current incumbent Georges Jacobs steps down and retires on 24 May.
Adex, the Peruvian exporters’ association, has re-elected current president Juan Varilias Velásquez to lead the Lima-based organisation for another year. The election also saw Carlos Lozada Zingoni and Humberto Speziani voted into the positions of first and second vice-presidents.
