Apal appoints new board chair Lisa May

Apple and Pear Australia (Apal) has announced the appointment of leadership coach Lisa May as the new chair of the Apal board of directors, effective 3 June 2024. May succeeds Reg Weine who stood down after dedicating four years to the Apal board.  

May brings over 25 years of experience in the FMCG and retail sectors, including Unilever, Campbell Arnott’s, Bendon and Nestlé. In addition to chairing the Apal board, May is the chair of the Steinhardt Group in Bundaberg and a non-executive director for Priestley’s Gourmet Delights in Brisbane.  

“We’re thrilled to have found such talent as Lisa, who will bring great experience in commercial operations, sales and marketing, and executive management roles to the Apal board,” said Phil Turnbull, chief executive of Apal.  

“This robust corporate experience, paired with Lisa’s skills in executive mentoring and leadership mastered through her successful coaching practice, will complement and further strengthen the existing skillset of the Apal board of directors.  

“Lisa is passionate about food, people and the planet, and will bring a global perspective, strategic thinking and thoughtful counsel to Apal, which will be invaluable to the Australian industry and the further development of Apal’s new commercial entity, Twenty Degrees,” Turnbull said.  

Weine, who had been Apal chair since July 2022 and was a non-executive director of Apal since March 2020, stepped down from the board in June 2024 following his appointment to the Bubs Australia chief executive and managing director position.  

“We thank Reg for the positive impact he’s had on the Apal board over the years and for the advocacy he’s demonstrated to ensure a sustainable future for the industry,” said Turnbull.  

“We are grateful for the passion and integrity demonstrated by Reg during his time on the board, and we wish him great success in his new leadership role at Bubs Australia.”