Hi everyone,
I’m writing to inform you that Zespri CFO Richard Hopkins has decided to leave Zespri to take up a new role as CFO for Mercury. Richard will be with Zespri through to 5 April.
I want to thank Richard for his contribution to Zespri and to the kiwifruit industry since joining us in 2019. In his six years as CFO, he has been driven to create value for growers and shareholders and to support the business to deliver strong financial performance through a challenging period. That includes, not least, the disruptions of the Covid pandemic, the significant seasonal changes in supply volumes, and the delivery of Zespri’s largest ever transformation programmes in finance systems and processes.
I extend my thanks to Richard and wish him well in his future career with Mercury. We will be starting a recruitment process for a new CFO appointment. In the interim, Richard will continue to lead the function right up to his departure in April and I’m grateful to have his support through the transition period.
Please see below some personal words from Richard.
Best regards,
Jason
Comment from Richard
“While I am excited about this next chapter, leaving Zespri and the kiwifruit industry will undoubtedly be bittersweet. The move for me comes after much thought and reflection. I’m returning to the power sector, which is where my career was focused before I moved to New Zealand. It’s an opportunity to join a company that is undertaking exciting transformational changes leading the electrification of New Zealand.
“My six years at Zespri have been incredibly rewarding. Zespri and the industry are in great shape, with a bright future, and I wish you all continued success.”
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