South Africa’s fresh fruit industry has fired its first salvo of change for 2012, with Stuart Symington, who has steered the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF) for the best part of the past decade, leaving the organisation in order to take up a new and demanding role as chief executive of the Perishable Products Exports Control Board (PPECB).
Fresh produce industry monitoring specialist Innovative Fresh has strengthened its team with the appointment of Karin Gorree, formerly of Eosta and The Greenery as quality director, with responsibility for the Dutch company’s monitoring programmes in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK.
Roger Stewart, managing director of the UK arm of Dutch vegetable seed company Rijk Zwaan, is to leave his position. He will stay at Rijk Zwaan in an advisory capacity until the end of 2012.
Peter Beaven, a leading figure in the global topfruit business, has started a gradual departure from his role as chief executive officer of New Zealand apple and pear association Pipfruit NZ.
Keelings has made a double appointment to its European team, bringing in Steve Rudge from Tesco, where he previously held the role of category manager for salads, and Mathieu Leveque from Compagnie Fruitière/Dole France.
Industry veteran Luis Mayol has replaced José Antonio Galilea as the Chilean minister of agriculture following Galilea’s resignation in December. Mayol was president of the National Agricultural Society (SNA), is a lawyer and agricultural businessman, and has been linked to the SNA for 30 years.
Safmarine has announced the appointment of Grant Daly as its new chief executive officer, replacing the outgoing Tomas Dyrbye.
Maersk Line has announced that it has appointed Søren Skou as its new chief executive officer. He replaces the outgoing Eivind Kolding, who is leaving the group to become chairman of the executive board of Danske Bank.
