NZSMI elects new officers
June 20, 2016 – Mitch Cuevas is the newly-elected president of consumer healthcare products industry body, the New Zealand
Self-Medication Industry Association (SMI). He was previously vice-president of SMI.
He was appointed general manager/director of API Consumer Brands in September 2011. API’s core business is the
manufacture of and sales of prescription / OTC medicines for NZ and Australia.
Prior to API, Mr Cuevas held senior positions in NZ at Fonterra and Goodman Fielder, and has worked with a number of
FMCG multinationals in the USA, Europe and South America. He has an MBA from London Business School, and a general
management qualification from Harvard Business School.
“After having been on the council for a number of years, and being part of some great initiatives in furthering
self-care in NZ, I’m really looking forward to taking a more active and leadership role. My key focus areas will be on
greater communication and engagement with our key stakeholder groups, health and safety leadership for our membership
and supporting NZ self-care strategies.”
The new president was voted in by SMI Council members at a meeting earlier this week. Tania Newman head of GSK Consumer
Healthcare NZ and new general manager of RBNZ, Colin Armstrong, were also elected to the Board. The Board also received
with regret the resignation of Rupert O’Campo from Pfizer who has taken up a new position with Nestlé NZ.
Previous president David Thomas head of GSK Consumer Healthcare NZ has been promoted to head of Pharmacy with GSK
Australia.
ENDS