Goodman Fielder NZ Managing Director Tim Deane is the new Chair of the NZ Food and Grocery Council.
He replaces Veronique Cremades, the Country Manager of Nestlé NZ, who has completed her term.
Goodman Fielder NZ is one of our country’s largest consumer food companies with extensive dairy, baking and grocery portfolios, producing food locally at its 14 manufacturing sites. As well as providing Kiwi consumers with great food, it also exports branded consumer goods, largely into South East Asia.
Tim Deane has had broad executive experience in the dairy, financial services, pharmaceutical and tourism sectors. Directly before joining Goodman Fielder, he was Managing Director Fonterra Brands New Zealand, and before that was Director Global Sales for Fonterra Co-operative Group. He has also held senior positions at Sovereign Assurance, Bank of New Zealand, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Tourism New Zealand.
While on the FGC Board he has chaired the Health and Regulatory Working Group.
He said he was honoured and humbled to be chosen to chair the industry organisation that represents the manufacturers and suppliers behind New Zealand’s food, beverage, and grocery brands.
“Our members are a vital cog in New Zealand’s economy, accounting for 72 per cent, or more than $31 billion, of total merchandise exports, and employing about 400,000 people, or one in five of the workforce.
“I’m looking forward to building on the work of my predecessors Veronique Cremades and Pierre van Heerden in ensuring our industry delivers for New Zealand.
“FGC is an extremely hard-working and innovative organisation and I look forward also to working with members in an open and accessible manner to further that work.”
Chief Executive Katherine Rich says Tim Deane brings his own special knowledge and experience in the food industry to the role.
“FGC has had the benefit of being chaired by industry leaders down the years, and Tim continues that tradition. He has been a big part of FGC and I really look forward to working with him on a new level.”
She paid tribute to Mrs Cremades.
“It was an honour and a privilege to work with Veronique. She was our first female Chair, and introduced her own unique style to the role. Her emphasis on issues around healthy eating was a standout of her leadership.”