Big guns of NZ export unite to help aspirational exporters

Media statement Friday, 20 November 2015

Big guns of NZ export unite in helping aspirational exporters

ExportNZ is delighted to announce the appointment of seven individuals to the ExportNZ Auckland executive committee. The 30 member strong committee is a unique and dynamic collaboration between exporters, corporates, and government.

“These individuals are passionate about giving back to the export community, volunteering their time to help New Zealand achieve the goal, as committed to by the Government in the Building Export Markets chapter of the Business Growth Agenda, of increasing the ratio of exports from 30% to 40% of GDP by 2025”, says Catherine Lye, executive officer, ExportNZ Auckland.

“Hitting the $100b export target is a pretty lofty goal, hence the importance of ensuring we have the right people and organisations supporting our ambition to help aspirational exporters accelerate their entry into suitable and sustainable export markets

“Our people are our strength, and these appointments to our board further strengthen the depth of networks, connections, experience and knowledge to help our emerging exporters lift and achieve their export aspirations”, says Ms Lye.

Appointed to the role of ExportNZ Auckland Chair is Lance Sheppard, Director International Business Development – Power Technology ASEAN Ltd

In a career that has spanned Europe, USA, Middle East and Asia, Lance has had an extensive and successful internationally focused career in the areas of market and opportunity identification and validation, network development, creation and implementation of market growth and channels to market strategies and JV and partnership establishment, across the marine, aviation, telecommunications and energy sectors.

Appointed to the role of ExportNZ Auckland Deputy Chair is Mike Riley, CEO – Compac

Mike Riley has been CEO of Compac Sorting Equipment since February 2015. Compac is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of smart produce handling solutions and equipment to packing operations around the world.

Previously, Mike was the CEO of Endace (LSE AIM: EDA) where he oversaw Endace's successful transition from component supplier into a provider of complete network recording solutions and services. During his tenure as CEO of Endace, Mike helped the company increase its annual revenue by roughly 400 percent.

Other members of the executive committee include:

Christine Cash – GM Sales & Marketing, Tegel Foods Ltd

Christine Cash was appointed as General Manager of Sales & Marketing of Tegel Foods early 2014, formerly holding the General Manager of Export role for 3 years. Christine’s career at Tegel has spanned 20 years, with a wide breadth of roles throughout the business including Innovation, Marketing and Sales management.

Michael Masterton – Head of Commercial, EveredgeIP

Michael was the eighth hire and part of the senior management team at a start-up that grew to 7,500 people in just over eight years. As the CEO of Asia and New Zealand (and one of New Zealand’s youngest major CEO’s) he guided the business to become one of New York stock exchange listed Omnicom Group’s most successful and profitable acquisitions. Since then he has founded a number of successful start-ups and turned around two mid-sized companies in logistics and FMCG, taking both from significant losses to profit within nine months.

Jon Clausen – Regional Manager Asia, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Jon Clausen became the Regional Manager for Asia in 2012. He joined Fisher & Paykel Healthcare in 1995, and has had varied sales, marketing and management roles. He has significant experience in exporting hi-tech products, new product introduction and people management.

Sarah Perry – CEO, SnapComms

SnapComms launched in 2007 and has over 1 million users in 35 countries. 99% of SnapComms business is from export.

Sarah and her business partner Chris Leonard have organically grown SnapComms internationally (i.e. customer funded not VC funded) into a Deloitte Fast 50 and Fast 500 company and winner of the 2015 NZ ICT Export Award.

She’d like to help other kiwi companies make a bigger impact. Towards this end, Sarah has recently been appointed to the board of NZTech (The New Zealand Technology Industry Association)

Graham Painter – Director, Trade Consultants

Graham's expertise is extensive and wide-ranging. He has advised companies, governments and industry organisations on all aspects of trade in many jurisdictions including Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, the European Community, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand and the US.

In recent years he has been involved in the development of APEC trade policy.

Blair Gourdie – Regional Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, Air New Zealand Cargo

Blair has been in the role for 3 years. Prior to joining Air New Zealand he had experience in fast moving consumable goods working for Coca Cola Amatil (NZ) Ltd.

Air New Zealand Cargo is dedicated to working with exporters to help grow and supercharge New Zealand’s success. They are a customer centric and commercially savvy airline that is focussed on the Pacific Rim, with a cargo network the spans the globe through our virtual network. Currently 40% of the cargo carried by Air New Zealand cargo goes through our virtual network enabling New Zealand’s export products to reach their worldwide markets.

Brent Carter – GM Sales, Marketing & Customer Service - NZ & FJ, TNT

To view the full 2015/16 committee – please click here

ExportNZ is a not-for-profit, non-government association run by exporters for exporters. With seven regional offices our purpose is to inspire, educate and accelerate our member companies into suitable and sustainable export markets.

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