Zespri CEO Dan Mathieson will leave Zespri to take up a new position as President of the Americas for global berry company Driscoll’s.
Mathieson has been at Zespri for 21 years, almost seven of those as CEO and will remain at Zespri to oversee the 2024 harvest and start of the sales season and until a new CEO is appointed, with the industry poised to deliver one of its largest-ever crops.
Zespri Chairman Bruce Cameron says Dan leaves as a world-class CEO who has helped turn Zespri into a leading sales and marketing company and with the industry well positioned to continue to succeed.
“Under Dan’s exceptional leadership Zespri grew sales from almost $2.3 billion in 2016/17 to a peak just over $4 billion in 2021/22 prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, with that growth set to continue in the coming years. Through that time, he demonstrated his ability to bring talented people together, to set and execute strategy and ultimately to deliver great outcomes for the industry."
Mathieson says it was a difficult decision to leave but does so confident the industry is well positioned, while also excited by the personal challenge ahead. “I’m so passionate about this industry. It’s filled with incredible, deeply committed people providing a world-class product and its future is so bright."
“While I remain focused on the upcoming season, I’m really proud of what the industry is achieving. The industry has a track record of making bold, forward-thinking decisions which have added strong and sustainable value for growers and communities where we operate. I’m most proud of the people at Zespri and their commitment to delivering for our growers and partners."
Comment from Driscoll's
“We are thrilled to welcome Daniel to Driscoll’s as President of the Americas. His exceptional leadership at Zespri, a company we admire, is a testament to his strategic acumen and dedication to driving success in the produce industry," said Soren Bjorn, Driscoll’s CEO. “Dan is a values-based leader, which made him an ideal candidate for this important role. He balances forward-looking, operational agriculture excellence with a clear track record of creating sustainable shareholder value.”
"Driscoll’s is an iconic produce brand and I am honored to lead a business that has such a strong foundation and to be joining such a great team,” Mathieson said. “I’m fully aligned with Driscoll’s mission, and I look forward to creating an environment of inquiry, innovation and execution and help deliver a world-class product to customers and consumers and to generating real value for our growers.”
In the upcoming months, Mathieson will transition from his CEO role at Zespri and will relocate with his family to the United States from Singapore.
For more information:
Anna Cross
Zespri
Tel: +64 27 316 7777
Email: [email protected]
www.zespri.com