Zespri International will lose another senior and long-serving executive this year, with the announcement that general manager of supply chain Sally Gardiner will leave the company at the end of the year after six years in the role.
Her resignation follows the recent announcement that long-time chief financial officer MervDallas will leave the company next month. The company said that neither resignation had anything to do with the ongoing Serious Fraud Office investigation into Zespri's China invoicing issues.
"Zespri's New Zealand executive team has been very settled and has now been together for a long time, a fact which is unusual in the corporate world," said chief executive Lain Jager. "With the business and wider industry having survived the impact of Psa and being on the cusp of a period of significant growth, it is natural there will be change. Merv Dallas and Sally Gardiner's announcements should be seen in that context."
Mr Jager said that Ms Gardiner's contribution and commitment to the industry had been immense and she would leave with the best wishes and full support of the company as she sought new professional opportunities.
"Sally's experienced leadership and steady hand have been invaluable to Zespri and the wider industry during her six seasons as the head of supply chain, in what is a very demanding and critical industry leadership role. Including her previous roles within Zespri, Sally has worked for the company for 13 years and has been involved in the wider kiwifruit industry for 16 years in total, and is highly respected across the industry," said Mr Jager.
Mr Jager said Ms Gardiner had given a generous notice period to see the 2014 season to completion and allow for recruitment of her successor in time for the 2015 season.
"Executive transition is cyclical in nature and, while Zespri will inevitably feel the impact from the loss of two such experienced executives, the staggered nature of their departures will allow the business to carry on as normal," he said.
