Dan Mathieson will taking up a role with global berry company Driscoll's. Photo: Supplied / Zespri
After seven years as Zespri chief executive, and 21 years at the company, Dan Mathieson is leaving to take up a new role.
He will stay with the kiwifruit marketer to oversee the 2024 harvest and the start of the sales season before moving to the job of President of the Americas for global berry company Driscoll's.
Zespri chairman Bruce Cameron said Mathieson leaves as a world-class chief executive who 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 $4b in 2021/22 prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, with that growth set to continue in the coming years. "
Mathieson said it was a difficult decision to leave but he did so confident the industry was well positioned, while also being 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. We've had an industry-wide focus on addressing the quality challenges imposed by Covid restrictions and on delivering the premium-quality product we're known for and we've seen the results of that this season.
"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."
Zespri's board will soon begin the process of looking for a new chief executive.