The New Zealand Food and Grocery Council (FGC) has elected former Nestlé NZ’s country manager, Veronique Cremades-Mathis, as its first female chair.
Cremades-Mathis, who has more than 25 years experience in the food and beverage industry, replaced Pierre van Heerden of Sanitarium, who stepped down after completing his three-year term.
Cremades-Mathis said she was honoured to be chosen to chair New Zealand’s peak body for consumer goods.
“FGC’s members represent more than $34 billion in domestic retail sales, more than $31 billion in exports, and directly or indirectly employ about 400,000 people, and so it plays an absolutely vital part in the economy,” she said.
“My aim is to ensure our focus remains on ensuring that our industry produces the best and safest food and grocery products available anywhere.”
FGC chief executive, Katherine Rich, said she is looking forward to working with Cremades-Mathis.
“Veronique has been a big part of FGC for the past three years and I really look forward to working with her on a new level.”
Cremades-Mathis was previously the vice chair of FGC and she is also the chair of the Health and Technical Working Group.
Three new Board members were elected by the AGM: Leon Clement, managing director of Fonterra Brands NZ, Sharna Heinjus, general manager of Kimberly-Clark NZ, and Shane Webby, director of Twin Agencies.
The full Board includes Veronique Cremades-Mathis, chair; Scott MacKay (Design Print partners), vice chair; Gerry Lynch, (Mars NZ) vice chair; Pierre van Heerden, former chair; Leon Clement; Mark Hamilton (Bell Tea & Coffee Co); Sharna Heinjus; Shane Webby; John Kippenberger (Manuka Health); Tim Deane (Goodman Fielder).
