Three key appointments at Meat & Wool New Zealand

Thursday 22nd April 2010

Meat & Wool New Zealand has announced three key appointments within the organisation.

Andrew Burtt has been appointed Regional Manager - North America, and will be based in Washington DC from June. Also in June, Dave Harrison will commence as Region Manager - Europe, based in Brussels. Kelvin Whall has been appointed to the new role of Strategy Manager.

Meat & Wool New Zealand Chief Executive, Dr Scott Champion says the two Regional Manager roles are critical to Meat & Wool New Zealand's market access and development work.

"As an advocate for New Zealand sheep and beef farmers, Meat & Wool New Zealand works to maintain and extend market access for sheepmeat and beef, and to improve demand and positioning for our products in key markets.

"While the industry has diversified its export markets over the last three decades, Europe and the United States remain our largest markets. Each year around 50% of our sheepmeat exports by volume are sent to the European Union, and 55% of our beef goes to North America.

"Our offshore representatives help us pursue better relationships and increased links with trade policy makers, officials, and producer and industry organisations in these markets. They also monitor developments, provide analysis and respond to issues that could impact on New Zealand's trade."

As Regional Manager Europe, Harrison will also oversee New Zealand Meat Board activity relating to the administration of New Zealand's European Union quotas.

"Harrison has a background in policy and legal services, and is currently General Counsel for Meat & Wool New Zealand and Quota Manager for the New Zealand Meat Board. With this background Harrison is well placed to take on this new challenge.

"Burtt brings extensive experience to the role of Regional Manager North America having previously worked for Meat & Wool New Zealand and our predecessor organisations in both Europe and the United States. He has considerable knowledge of trade policy, market development and the value chain for New Zealand meat."

As Strategy Manager, Whall will be supporting a range of initiatives which go across the organisation and were identified in the Meat & Wool New Zealand Strategic Plan 2010-2014.

"The strategic plan focuses our attention on those areas where Meat & Wool New Zealand can make a difference for sheep and beef farmers. An important part of Whall's role will be ensuring we measure our progress and report back to sheep and beef farmers on what has been achieved with their levies.

"Whall is well qualified to take on this task and having spent the last four years as Regional Manager North America, he brings extensive experience from the market."

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