Our People

Board of Directors

Strong governance has always been a key part of the business, making important decisions that safeguard and grow MG .

The eight members of MG's Board of Directors have a high level of business experience and industry expertise. At an individual, as well as a collective level, their expertise encompasses many facets of the domestic and international fresh produce industry.

At regular meetings the Board is joined by MG's senior management team, Peter Hendry as Chief Executive Officer, Duncan Pryor as Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, Kerry Wells as International Business Manager.

Bruce R. IrvineB.Com, LLB, CA
Chairman, Appointed Special Director

Bruce joined the MG Board in 1994. He comes with an extensive business background and previously held the position of Managing Partner of the Christchurch office of Chartered Accountants, Deloitte, between 1995 and 2007.

Lynn T. Crozier
Elected Director

Lynn joined the MG Board in 2012 and is the current Deputy Chair. Today Lynn, through a family owned and operated business since the 1960’s, is a major grower of potatoes, onions and carrots in Central Canterbury. 

Trevor J. Burt
Appointed Special Director

Trevor joined the MG Board in January 2017.  Trevor had an extensive global executive career with the BOC Group and Linde AG Ltd, living and working in China, USA, and Germany. Since returning to NZ in 2008 Trevor has embarked on a professional governance career.

Mark O'Connor
Elected Director

Mark was re-appointed as an MG director in November 2017 having previously served from November 2014 to November 2016. Mark is the Managing Director and a shareholder in the family market gardening business, Appleby Fresh Ltd, which is based in Nelson. Mark has other industry roles including being on the board of Vegetables NZ Inc and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Joanna Lim
Elected Director

Joanna (Jo) was elected to the MG board in 2018. She and her husband have their family market garden business (Jade Garden Produce) and a share in a cucumber glasshouse operation (Island Horticulture Limited), both in the Christchurch area. She is also a senior corporate lawyer at Simpson Grierson, bringing diverse commercial experience and skills. She involves herself in the local community as well, as a trustee of the Selwyn Arts Trust and member of the St John Selwyn Central Area Committee.  

Trudi Webb
Elected Director

Trudi joined the board on 7 August 2019 after completing an MG Director internship. Along with her husband, Simon, they own and operate a summerfruit and pipfruit orchard. Webb's Fruit is based in Cromwell, Central Otago and has been in the family since 1914.  Trudi is actively involved in other industry and community roles.

Robin Oakley
Elected Director

Robin joined the Board in 2020. He is a fifth-generation vegetable grower and currently the Managing Director for Oakley's Premium Fresh Vegetables Ltd. Robin has previously served as a director on the United Fresh and Potatoes New Zealand boards.  

Jay Clarke
Elected Director

Jay was elected to the Board in 2022. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Jay brings a unique approach to consulting of special projects and providing strategic guidance in his role as a Director of large commercial growing operation, Woodhaven Gardens. Jay also serves as a Board member for Vegetables New Zealand. 

Executive Management

MG's management team execute the strategic direction set by the board.  An experienced, proven team who have been part of the business for many years who show true leadership to grow the business and overcome challenges by making decisions that protect the future of our grower co-operative.

Peter Hendry
Chief Executive Officer

After working with a major supermarket operator, Peter joined MG in 1998 as a key account manager in the Auckland branch. He went on to manage the branch and became national operations manager before being appointed general manager in 2005 and chief executive officer in 2011.

Kerry Wells
Executive Director NZ Subsidiaries & Associates

Kerry joined MG 1994 as the marketing manager, after working in the meat export sector. He undertook domestic importing and national marketing roles until 2000 when he became international business manager overseeing exports and imports.

Roger Georgieff
General Manager Domestic Procurement

Roger worked in supermarket and wholesale marketing manager roles before joining MG in 1997 as operations manager. He was appointed as the national procurement manager in 2003.

Duncan Pryor
Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

Duncan joined MG in 1996 as the company accountant, having previously been an audit manager with DeloitteIn the same year, he took on the role of company secretary and subsequently was appointed chief financial officer. 

Kimberly Chavez
Business Assurance Manager

Kim joined the MG team in 2016 as the risk and internal audit manager. Having started her career with KPMG in the US, her previous roles include various industries and a progressive range of global assignments, focusing on risk and controls. She worked as an internal audit manager for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company for several years.

Chris Hibbert
Chief Information Officer

Chris joined MG in 1997 as information technology manager after working in IT management positions prior to his appointment. He has been responsible for supervising MG’s development of computer systems and on-line business functions. 

Greig Pullar
Chief Operations Officer

Greig joined MG in 2008 as the employee relations manager.  He was primarily responsible for the development of people management strategies, practices and policies to support business performance. In 2015 Greig was appointed to the national operations manager position and in 2021 became chief operations manager.

Jerry Prendergast
General Manager Key Accounts

After developing and owning a group of produce retail stores, Jerry joined MG in 2001 primarily as brand development manager for the Dole brand. He was later appointed the national key account and brand development manager role in 2011. Jerry is also the President of United Fresh NZ Inc.

Jade Reeves
General Manager Operations

Jade joined MG in 1999 in Dunedin in the inwards goods team. Intermingled with a couple of sojourns abroad Jade has worked in stores, sales, account management, domestic & imported procurement, branch management, and now oversees operations.

Ellery Tappin
General Manager Communications and Sustainability

El joined MG in 2019 after holding a number of communications and consultancy roles for some of New Zealand’s leading brands.  He oversees MG's communication programme with grower-shareholders, staff and other stakeholders, and is also responsible for developing and driving the MG Sustainability Roadmap.

Iain Higgins
IT Architect

Iain joined the wider MG group in 2009 as IT Manager for MG's Australian subsidiary LaManna Group. In 2014 Iain relocated to Christchurch and joined the MG team as IT Manager International, with responsibilities for developing & delivering IT solutions across MG's growing and wholesaling interests.

Humphrey Lawrence
General Manager Imports Procurement

Humphrey has a background in livestock farming and worked in fruit exporting before joining MG in 2015 as an imports trader. He now oversees our imports procurement.

Dominic Gargiulo
Auckland Branch Manager

After spending time in a glasshouse operation, Dominic joined MG in 2005 in Christchurch. Having held roles in warehouse, sales, account management, now manages the Auckland branch.

 


For a list of our Domestic and International procurement representatives, please click here