McInness succeeds Tony Sayle who has stepped down after 25 years in the role
Jenkins Group has appointed Cameron McInness as the company’s new managing director after announcing the retirement of Tony Sayle.
Sayle has led the company for the past 25 years and welcomed the appointment of McInness who will maintain the long-standing family legacy of the 141-year-old New Zealand-headquartered company.
“I am delighted that Cameron has accepted the role and has the chance to take the company forward into a new chapter in its long and vibrant history,” said Sayle. “He will continue what has been a long tradition of family members leading our business which started in Auckland in 1883.”
Jenkins Group is a key industry player throughout Australasia’s horticulture post-harvest industry. It provides an extensive range of labelling, packaging and automated handling systems to the fruit and vegetable industry across New Zealand and Australia via multiple subsidiaries.
Having spent time in the UK and California with a Jenkins’ Group key partner, Sinclair International, McInness returned to New Zealand to head up the group’s horticulture division in 2002. McInness subsequently joined the Jenkins board and became general manager of the group’s “Jenkins Labels.” He later headed to Australia as general manager of the group’s subsidiary, J-Tech Systems.
McInness was previously general manager of Jenkins’ startup business, Ripesense, which produced the world’s first fruit label that changed colour to depict the ripeness of fruit. He also headed Global Pac Technologies, a joint venture established to sell intelligent robotic fruit packing machines in partnership with Robotics Plus.
In his current role as director of new ventures and innovation for Jenkins, McInness has been instrumental in establishing shareholding partnerships with CR Automation and ABC Software.
“With his extensive immersion across all facets of the Jenkins business and experience with our partners, Cameron is ideally positioned to take on the managing director role and lead the business forward to further success,” Sayle said.
“For my own part, it has been a privilege to lead one of New Zealand’s longest established businesses and work with the family and shareholders that have been so supportive and positive throughout my time as managing director.
McInness thanked Sayle for his service and said he was honoured to take on the new role.
“On behalf of Jenkins, I would like to thank Tony Sayle for his commitment and service to our customers, partners, and people,” he said. “Over his tenure, Tony has led Jenkins through significant change and at times major industry and global challenges. He has always led with honesty and integrity.”
Sayle will continue as a member on the Jenkins board.
