Zespri Group Limited Appoints New Director

23 March 2005

Zespri Group Limited Appoints New Director

ZESPRI Group Limited today announced it has appointed David Pilkington to its Board of Directors.

Mr Pilkington joins ZESPRI with an extensive career in the New Zealand agricultural industry, including 28 years with Fonterra (formerly the New Zealand Dairy Board).

Since leaving Fonterra in May 2004, Mr Pilkington has become a professional director. His current directorships include publicly-listed Restaurant Brands, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, and is Chair of the new pipfruit breeding company, Prevar.

During his time with Fonterra he held a number of senior management positions, including managing their operations in North America and Japan. His most recent role at Fonterra was Managing Director of New Zealand Milk, the Consumer Products business.

Mr Pilkington, who grew up on a farm in the Hawke’s Bay, has a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Engineering from Canterbury University, and a Diploma in Dairy Science and Technology from Massey University.

Having joined the ZESPRI Board, Mr Pilkington is looking forward to combining his extensive business and marketing expertise with his passion for New Zealand agriculture and horticulture.

“I believe the ongoing prosperity of New Zealand as a country is, and will remain, dependent on our ability to maintain leadership in the agricultural industry, and to generate increasing wealth from that sector,” he said.

“Whether it’s kiwifruit, fertiliser or apples, we are all trying to do the same thing – use innovation to add value and build upon our natural agricultural advantage.”

ZESPRI Chairman, Craig Greenlees said Mr Pilkington brings tremendous agri-business and marketing experience and passion to the ZESPRI Board.

“His appointment provides the ZESPRI Board with an appropriate balance of skills to continue to grow our billion dollar business,” said Mr Greenlees.

As a director of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, not surprisingly, Mr Pilkington is an avid skier. Having been a keen golfer he now enjoys a more social round. Mr Pilkington and his wife Jacquie live in Wellington and have three teenage children.

Mr Pilkington replaces Alistair Betts, who sadly passed away in December 2004.

ENDS.

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