By PHILIPPA STEVENSON
Brian Allison is to chair post-harvest company Seeka Kiwifruit after the retirement of long-time chairman Warner Bowyer.
Allison is a former chairman of Kiwifruit Industries - a Brierley Investments subsidiary which amalgamated with Seeka - and a director of the Kiwifruit Marketing Board.
He is also a former director of
the Dairy Board, New Zealand Dairy Group, and New Zealand Dairy Foods, which he chaired and now advises.
Bowyer was involved with Seeka and its founding companies for more than 20 years.
Seeka managing director Tony de Farias said the company had achieved some extraordinary milestones during Bowyer's time at the helm.
"Within the last five years Seeka has more than doubled its market share, with the recent acquisition of the Waimapu Group making Seeka probably New Zealand's largest integrated kiwifruit supplier."
Seeka processes more than 15 per cent of national kiwifruit production.
It has forecast sales for the year of more than $31 million and an after-tax net profit of $2.5 million.
Seeka shares trade on the unlisted market.
