New CEO for Export Co

New CEO for Export Co

Carter Holt Harvey and the Central North Island Forest Partnership (CNIFP) Receiver announced today that John Palmer has been appointed to Chief Executive Officer of the jointly owned log and chip export company, Export Co.

Mr Palmer has extensive international and industrial experience having worked for 15 years for Fosroc Ltd., part of the Burmah Castrol group, an international construction chemicals supplier.

Mr Palmer started as Sales and Marketing Manager and progressed to CEO of Fosroc New Zealand. He spent five years based in Hong Kong, initially managing Fosroc’s companies in Hong Kong and China and latterly as the Asian Regional Director with responsibility for companies throughout the Asia Pacific region.

More recently he moved to the UK where he spent four years as European Regional Director whilst managing Fosroc’s UK company.

“We are very pleased to have John lead the new export company. His particular strengths in sales and marketing, specifically in the Asia Pacific region will be a major asset to the newly established company”, says Carter Holt Harvey COO, Devon McLean.

In November 2002, Carter Holt Harvey announced that it had commenced discussions with the CNIFP Receiver on the creation of an independent log and chip export company. An agreement was signed last month on the partnership of the new export company.

“The creation of an independent export company is very positive for the whole New Zealand Forest Industry and its many international log customers.

“For Carter Holt Harvey this initiative is all about strengthening New Zealand’s position relative to our international competitors which is in line with the Company’s philosophy on being world class in everything we do,” said Mr McLean.

A co-ordinated approach to export marketing of New Zealand logs internationally is expected to deliver significant benefits through economies of scale as well as greater consistency of supply and enhanced service to customers.

CHH and the CNIFP Receiver, as joint owners, are working towards launching the business by the middle of this year. There is still further work to do on the implementation plan for setting up and operating the business between the two parties. Once the business is established, the company intends to further discussions with other potential participants.

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