KVH has elected a new Board Chair, Dr David Tanner.

David has been a Director on the KVH Board since September 2016 and was elected Chair at the March Board meeting after Adrian Gault announced he had decided to stand down from the role so he could focus on his business ventures, including his own kiwifruit orchard.

Many growers know Adrian well and will have seen him at various roadshows over the years - we’re sure you join KVH in thanking him for his commitment during his time as Chair.

With a wealth of experience in the kiwifruit industry, David brings to the role a career steeped in horticultural science and innovation leadership. Growers will recall he also spent eight years with Zespri as General Manager Science and Innovation, responsible for the innovation team and their investment in research and development.

When Psa struck he was able to dedicate two and half years to leading the science and technical response to the disease, an experience that gave him a comprehensive understanding of Psa and the risk of any other biosecurity event.

Aside from his governance roles with KVH and national education trust House of Science New Zealand, David sits on, or chairs, a number of other food industry boards. Outside of this, David and his business partner are kept busy running their horticultural innovation company, Start Afresh Ltd.

Last but not least, he is of course a grower himself and together with other partners owns green and gold orchards in Katikati and Te Puke.

The KVH Board and team welcome David to his new role.