Fruit to flesh for new CEO

Simon Limmer has been appointed the new chief executive of Silver Fern Farms.

Limmer, 49, had been chief operating officer for Zespri, where he has held various roles since 2008. He will take over as Silver Fern Farms chief executive from Dean Hamilton, who steps down in March next year.

Silver Fern Farms co-chairman Rob Hewett said Limmer had significant general management experience developing effective supply chains in both stakeholder relations and business development.

Prior to Zespri, he spent 14 years with French multi-national Veolia in Europe, East Asia, Oceania and the Americas.

Limmer comes into the job after helping guide the kiwifruit industry through the Psa crisis, and has overseen the growth in its global supply strategy so the cooperative can supply markets 12 months a year.

He takes the helm at Silver Fern Farms a little over a year after it signed a $267 million deal with Chinese company Shanghai Maling, giving the latter a 50 per cent stake in the Dunedin-based processor.

Hewett said Limmer’s experience as Zespri’s chief operating officer, and prior to that as its GM China, give confidence he would be able to continue Silver Fern’s development as a consumer-oriented food business.

‘‘One of Simon’s clear strengths is his ability to lead people. Simon has led large teams, and has a strong affinity and understanding for farmer producers – which is a critical part of the ongoing success of Silver Fern Farms.’’

Limmer said Silver Fern was well positioned to add value to New Zealand’s natural grass-fed red meat.