The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Lain Jager undecided on post-Zespri path

Bay of Plenty Times
25 Sep, 2016 06:00 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Zespri chief executive Lain Jager has no plans for life after Zespri. Photo/File
Zespri chief executive Lain Jager has no plans for life after Zespri. Photo/File

Zespri chief executive Lain Jager has no plans for life after Zespri. Photo/File

Long-serving Zespri chief executive Lain Jager says he has no set plans for what he will do after he steps down in early 2018 after nearly a decade in the kiwifruit exporter's top job.

"I don't know and don't expect to be clear about that till after I have finished at Zespri," he said, commenting on the announcement from the board this week of the transition to new leadership.

"And the reason is I've been in the role a long time," he said. "The role requires a lot of focus and I just haven't thought a lot about what comes next."

Mr Jager, who will be 48 when he steps down, said high-level choices potentially included another chief executive role, or a portfolio of directorships.

His tenure has included some of the most challenging times to face the kiwifruit industry, most notably the fallout from the devastating Psa virus that struck in 2010.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He is one of the kiwifruit exporter's longest-serving executives, having joined Zespri in Auckland in 1999 as human resources manager. He then helped with the relocation of the head office to Tauranga in 2002 and ascended the company hierarchy, taking the top job in 2008.

Zespri chairman Peter McBride said Mr Jager's record spoke for itself.

"He has helped the business manage the opportunities and challenges which come with growth. Global sales have nearly doubled during his tenure, and value created for growers and shareholders has increased strongly."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc (KGI) chairman Doug Brown praised Mr Jager as a great asset to the industry.

"From a grower perspective, he earned a lot of respect just by his accessibility," said Mr Brown.

"He was always open to speak to growers at any level and I think that endeared him to growers. And he's led us through a number of challenging times. I think under his guidance we're set up for a good future."

KGI chief executive Nikki Johnson described Mr Jager as a world-class leader who had steered the industry through one of the most challenging times in its history.

Discover more

Confidence in avocado sector

25 Sep 09:39 PM

"His strategic and visionary management style has placed Zespri in a very good position going forward, ready for significant future growth.

"Finding a replacement will be a big job, so KGI is very pleased this time is being taken to find the right person to lead Zespri into the future."

Mr Jager noted that chief executive's tenure was ultimately a board decision.

"We all agree the time is coming and we have now committed to a transition process, which is a healthy one, with a year for the board to handle the recruitment process," he said.

"I think most people would say five-to-seven years is a normal chief executive tenure. I think I've had more than my fair slice of time. The reason for that is I passionately enjoy the industry and am hugely committed and it's been a real privilege to have been in the role."


Chief executive Lain Jager's previous roles at Zespri have included:
• HR Manager
• GM corporate strategy & HR
• GM for grower and government relations
• GM supply chain

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

Premium
Opinion

Thomas Coughlan: Govt mulls dramatic local government reform, slashing councils

04 Jul 05:00 PM
The Country

‘Huge growth potential’: Willis on wool challenges during visit to NZ’s biggest scourer

04 Jul 05:00 PM
The Country

'Sassy' success: Climate-resilient apple's exports set to double

04 Jul 05:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
Emma Raducanu criticises Wimbledon electronic line calls after loss
Sport

Emma Raducanu criticises Wimbledon electronic line calls after loss

05 Jul 03:26 AM
Trump responds as Texas floods leave 24 dead, girls missing from camp
World

Trump responds as Texas floods leave 24 dead, girls missing from camp

05 Jul 03:26 AM
Māori All Blacks v Scotland
Rugby

Māori All Blacks v Scotland

05 Jul 03:25 AM
Plenty for selectors to consider as Black Ferns win trial match
Black Ferns

Plenty for selectors to consider as Black Ferns win trial match

05 Jul 03:05 AM
Brick By Brick: Gables Transform Boring Cottage Into A Standout
Viva - Life. Health

Brick By Brick: Gables Transform Boring Cottage Into A Standout

05 Jul 03:00 AM

Latest from The Country

Premium
Thomas Coughlan: Govt mulls dramatic local government reform, slashing councils

Thomas Coughlan: Govt mulls dramatic local government reform, slashing councils

04 Jul 05:00 PM

News of merging ministries was just the tip of the iceberg.

‘Huge growth potential’: Willis on wool challenges during visit to NZ’s biggest scourer

‘Huge growth potential’: Willis on wool challenges during visit to NZ’s biggest scourer

04 Jul 05:00 PM
'Sassy' success: Climate-resilient apple's exports set to double

'Sassy' success: Climate-resilient apple's exports set to double

04 Jul 05:00 PM
Premium
Ex-TV host Matt Chisholm's bold new career; 'Hugely unpopular' - battle royale brews inside Stuff

Ex-TV host Matt Chisholm's bold new career; 'Hugely unpopular' - battle royale brews inside Stuff

04 Jul 10:13 AM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search