Chief Executive Lain Jager
Lain Jager joined ZESPRI in 1999 and has been responsible variously for Human Resources, Grower Relations, Innovation, Ingredients and Corporate Strategy. In 2004 he was promoted to the General Manager Supply Chain. Lain was appointed Acting Chief Executive effective from 1 July 2008, and Chief Executive from 1 December 2008.
Prior to joining ZESPRI, Lain worked for Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Fletcher Challenge in a variety of Human Resources and Operations Management roles. Lain has a Masters degree in Psychology, Philosophy and English from the University of Waikato.
GM Asia Yu-Jan Chen
Yu-Jan Chen became General Manager Asia in April 2000. He joined the New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board in 1994 as General Manager Japan. After a successful selling season, he became General Manager East Asia in 1996 with responsibility for Japan and East Asia.
After graduating from university in Taiwan, Yu-Jan worked in the marketing division of a leading food company for two years before studying strategic management at Tsukuba University in Japan on a Japanese government scholarship. He worked in Taiwan as a consultant before completing his MBA at IMD, Luasanne, Switzerland and joining Proctor & Gamble's International marketing division in Geneva.
GM Europe Luc Clerx
Luc Clerx has been General Manager Europe since January 2003. He started his career in the fruit trade with the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board in Belgium before joining the New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board’s new sales and marketing organisation in Antwerp in 1990. Since then he has held several roles, including Regional Manager North Europe from 1995 and Deputy General Manager from 2001, and is well known in the European fruit world.
Luc is a Master of Romantic Philology – Linguistics and Literature and has worked as a College Vice Principal and Professor of French. In 2002 he completed his MBA in General Management for International Executives at INSEAD, France.
Chief Financial Officer Merv Dallas
Merv Dallas joined ZESPRI as Group Financial Controller in 2002 when ZESPRI moved its head office to Tauranga. In 2005, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer, responsible for the overall finance, legal and information services functions of the ZESPRI Group of Companies.
Merv worked for the SkyCity Group as General Manager of Finance, initially in Auckland and then in Adelaide. He also has experience in shipping, commercial banking and the hospitality industry. Merv is a Chartered Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland.
GM Supply Chain Sally Gardiner
Sally Gardiner joined ZESPRI as General Manager Supply Chain on 8 December 2008. Sally joins ZESPRI after three seasons with Seeka Kiwifruit Industries Ltd, most recently as General Manager, Integrated Fruit Supply Limited (IFSL).
Prior to her role at Seeka, Sally was General Manager Kiwifruit New Zealand and spent time at ZESPRI as Treasurer and Commercial Manager.
GM Global Supply Simon Limmer
Simon Limmer joined ZESPRI in April 2008 and has responsibility for the development of global fruit production and sourcing.
Prior to this he had 14 years' international general management and business development experience with Veolia Environnement, the €30 billion global leader in environmental services. His most recent role was as the Deputy Vice-President / Commercial Director - Global Industrial Markets Division. Simon graduated from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Management Studies (Commerce / Marketing) before joining Ford Motor Company and then pursuing a professional rugby career in France.
Branding and Marketing Director Lauchie McLean
Lauchie McLean joined ZESPRI International as Marketing and Branding Director in November 2007, a specialised consumer marketing role. Based at ZESPRI’s head office in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, Lauchie leads ZESPRI’s investment in global marketing, branding and product innovation.
Lauchie is a New Zealander who graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Business Studies (Marketing), before embarking upon an extensive career in consumer products and retail, with such well known companies as Colgate Palmolive, SC Johnson, Jeyes, Tesco, Shell Retail, and Cadbury Schweppes.
Technical Director David Tanner
Dave Tanner joined ZESPRI in February 2007 as Technical Manager Global Supply Chain. He was appointed to Technical Director in July 2008, responsible for management and development of all technical functions including compliance programs, quality systems, technical innovation and packaging.
Prior to joining ZESPRI, Dave spent 13 years managing and conducting commercially-focused research and development, in both New Zealand and Australia, with specialist experience in refrigeration and packaging. Dave has a Bachelors degree in Horticultural Technology and a PhD in Food Engineering from Massey University. Dave is also active in the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), and is currently the President of the Science and Technology Council of this global, intergovernmental organisation.
Director Corporate and Grower Services Carol Ward
Carol Ward joined ZESPRI in April 2002 after 2 years of involvement with Kiwifruit New Zealand and Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (KGI). Initially working as the Global Marketing Manager GOLD she moved to the role of Planning and Supply Manager in January 2006. Carol was appointed to the role of Grower Services Director in late 2008, overseeing the grower services, contact centre, human resources and communications teams.
Prior to working in the kiwifruit industry Carol held a variety of marketing and sales roles at Carter Holt Harvey Tissues and divisional management roles at Hanimex (NZ) Limited and New Zealand Dairy Foods.