Media Statement August 11, 2005
Heinz CEO For New Zealand & Australia To Retire
The CEO of the HJ Heinz Company, Australia & New Zealand, Peter Lucas, has announced that he will retire at the end of this month (August) after 28 years with the
Wattie’s and Heinz businesses.
Peter Lucas joined Wattie Industries in 1977 as Group Manager, Operations Research, based in Hastings, and during his
career managed most aspects of the Heinz’s food businesses in New Zealand and Australia.
When the HJ Heinz Company acquired Wattie’s Limited in 1992 he was General Manager of Wattie Frozen Foods, soon after
becoming Managing Director of J Wattie Foods, the largest of the New Zealand-based business units, and at the time the
largest single supplier to the NZ grocery industry. Three years later he was appointed to restructure Tegel Foods. He
took responsibility for Heinz’s trans-Tasman operations in 2002.
His decision to retire follows the implementation by Heinz of a more centralised management structure based on business
units. As part of this the managers of the Heinz Wattie’s businesses in New Zealand & Australia, Nigel Comer and Peter Widdows, have been appointed to the new Presidents’ Council within H J Heinz.
Peter Lucas said tighter integration of global business units would benefit the New Zealand and Australia companies, as
well as allowing the respective managing directors to contribute to the wider international business.
“Heinz Wattie’s, Tegel Foods and Heinz Australia have talented management teams, and, with the continued support of
Heinz as their owner, they will continue to provide excellent service to customers and bring innovative food solutions
to consumers.”
Chairman, President and CEO of the HJ Heinz Company, William R Johnson, thanked Peter Lucas for the contributions to the
company since Heinz ownership.
“I have always had the greatest respect and admiration for Peter’s operating acumen, and his skill at driving his
businesses to new levels of performance,” Mr Johnson said.
Peter Lucas is a director of Fisher & Paykel Appliances and a member of the Food and Beverage Taskforce established by the Government in December 2004.
ENDS