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Zespri CEO Tim Goodacre says it has been "bloody hard" living under the shadow of an allegation that he knew about kickbacks paid to Iraq by the Australian Wheat Board.
It was claimed that an AWB employee negotiated an exit clause with Goodacre - a former board manager - absolving him of responsibility for any kickbacks.
But Goodacre - cleared by the Cole inquiry into the scandal - said he was particularly pleased the commissioner's report accepted his claims of innocence made when he gave evidence in February.
"He was quite explicit that all of the allegations made against me were not credible," he said. "It was the best result I could have expected."
However, it had been stressful to be accused and he said this month he would consider resigning if charged.
"No one likes their credibility questioned and it was obviously difficult."
He had had to "quarantine" that part of his life and get on with his job.
It had helped that the local kiwifruit industry had been very supportive of him.
Zespri chairman Craig Greenlees said the inquiry's finding was consistent with the board's experience of Goodacre, who would now focus on completing the bedding-in of a new strategic plan before he left the company next year.
Goodacre said he was still uncertain whether he would return to Australia when he finished at Zespri.
He would consider staying in New Zealand if he got the right job offer, "particularly given the level of support I've had here".
Meanwhile, Goodacre confirmed that Zespri would announce on Friday a higher green kiwifruit payout forecast for the current year.
Spoiling of green this year had depressed assumed returns but pre-export checks had been very successful in stopping spoiled fruit getting overseas.
That had helped maintain prices and sales, and therefore the payout would be better than previously expected, Goodacre said.
