Tony de Farias appointed as a ZESPRI Director

MEDIA RELEASE 17 July 2007

Tony de Farias appointed as a ZESPRI Director

ZESPRI Group Limited shareholders today appointed Tony de Farias as a ZESPRI director, to replace Alan Sutherland who is standing down after six years in the role.

Mr de Farias has a long history with the kiwifruit industry including orchard ownership, involvement in several industry bodies and the establishment of Seeka Kiwifruit Industries which he managed until 2006. In his address to ZESPRI shareholders, Mr de Farias strongly endorsed the industry’s single point of entry structure and promised to advocate grower interests.

At the AGM, ZESPRI Chairman Craig Greenlees and Chief Executive Tony Nowell both acknowledged the industry’s efforts in developing ZESPRI™ into the success story it is today, 10 years after the brand was first launched.

Mr Nowell, speaking at his first ZESPRI AGM, told grower/shareholders that ZESPRI is an extraordinary New Zealand success story. “You led New Zealand in moving from an export model – where we produce the stuff and ship it – towards a genuine international business model, where our focus is in-market, and we work back from there,” said Mr Nowell.

Shareholders also re-elected John Loughlin and Peter McBride, who were both unopposed. Mr de Farias received 57 percent of the votes, to defeat Peter Ombler by a narrow margin.

The AGM passed six resolutions including endorsement of the use of capital to fund investment in the development of new kiwifruit varieties and new products derived from kiwifruit. This was passed by 98 percent, with approval provided until 2010.

ENDS

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