By PHILIPPA STEVENSON agricultural editor
Like barbarians breaching a citadel, the corporate raiders long feared by small apple growers have stormed the boardroom of monopoly apple exporter Enza.
Sir Ron Brierley's Guinness Peat Group (GPG) and investment bank FR Partners have rounded off last month's successful bid for a near 40 per
cent majority stake in Enza with almost wholesale replacement of the Enza board.
In a move with the potential to shake the country's apple tree like never before, GPG executive director Tony Gibbs is the $600 million apple marketer's new chairman. Joining him at the board table are FR Partners' directors Bill Birnie and Stephen Norrie, and the general manager of GPG subsidiary Turners and Growers international division, Michael Dossor.
Gone are 20-year board veteran and chairman John McCliskie, who brought forward his planned September retirement to yesterday, grower Jos Dames, who has been on the board three years, and former Dairy Board marketing manager Alistair Betts, appointed as recently as April.
The only directors to retain their seats are Peter Roebuck, chairman of leading orchardist Eastern Equities, and Richard Hill, general manager of its orchard division EEC Horticulture. In June, Eastern Equities was bought by Hawkes Bay Apples on a delayed settlement which is yet to occur. Last month Hawkes Bay Apples, which is backed by Timaru millionaire Allan Hubbard, sold its Enza shares to GPG and FR.
Mr McCliskie said the board moves brought to an end the recent significant changes in Enza's shareholding and signified a new era with the transformation of the cooperative Apple and Pear Marketing Board to a fully commercial entity.
But yesterday's announcement took Pipfruit Growers chairman Phil Alison by surprise and, he said, made growers "somewhat apprehensive."
"They had expected change but in a way that recognised their concerns as supplier shareholders."
His organisation would seek an early meeting with the new board.
