Share
- Release Date: 07/12/12 19:00
- Summary: OFFICE: PGW: Rodger Finlay Appointed to AgriTech Committee
- Price Sensitive: No
- Download Document 3.37KB
PGW
07/12/2012 17:00
OFFICE
REL: 1700 HRS PGG Wrightson Limited
OFFICE: PGW: Rodger Finlay Appointed to AgriTech Committee
The Chairman of PGG Wrightson, Sir John Anderson announced today the
appointment of Rodger Finlay as an external expert to the company's recently
formed AgriTech Committee.
Mr Finlay is a welcome addition to the Committee bringing a wealth of global
investment banking experience and industrial expertise in agriculture and
natural resources.
The Committee was formed to provide additional board oversight for the PGG
Wrightson AgriTech division incorporating the seed and grain businesses. The
main responsibilities of the AgriTech Committee are to recommend the AgriTech
annual plan and strategy to the board and to monitor the operational and
strategic direction of the AgriTech business.
Membership of the Committee comprises current PGG Wrightson directors;
Guanglin (Alan) Lai as Chairman, Bruce Irvine and George Gould, and also
external experts Dr Zhi-Kang Li and Rodger Finlay. Biographical details for
Rodger Finlay are provided below.
Sir John Anderson said that the AgriTech division has a number of key
operational differences from other PGG Wrightson businesses and requires
additional governance focus and expert attention. The use of advisory boards
is common practice in technology companies where directors need to call on
the support of external advisers with specific expertise and the AgriTech
Committee reflects this approach.
Some of the unique features of the AgriTech business include:
o R&D focus - the company has a R&D spend in the order of $15 million
annually, with a mix of direct investment by the company and funding through
partners and external funding.
o International footprint - AgriTech has businesses located in Australia,
Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay; sources seed from New Zealand, Australia,
Europe, North America and South America and sells seed into every continent.
o Long term focus - market development in the seeds business is of a long
term nature which involves working with local agricultural researchers and
key influencers in various markets to help with the development and adoption
of pastoral based grazing systems.
"It is important to recognise that the New Zealand seed industry is a major
exporter of seed globally and, as the largest player in this market, the PGG
Wrightson AgriTech Seeds business has many of the same operational
complexities as the major meat and dairy processors."
Biography - Rodger Finlay
Mr Finlay is an experienced company director with governance skills
specialising in finance, natural resources and corporate recovery. He
concluded his career as an investment banker and fund manager in 2008, after
twenty-six years' service principally with three financial houses in London -
CS First Boston, Paribas and UBS. His final investment banking role
culminated in representation at Management Board level.
He is currently a director on several boards including Public Trust, Moeraki
Ltd (a Ngai Tahu Investments company), Rural Equities and NZ Rural Property
Trust Management, Mundane Asset Management (UK) and NZ Oil & Gas. He holds a
commerce degree from Otago University and is a Chartered Accountant and
Member of the Institute of Directors.
For additional information contact:
Julian Daly, General Counsel & Company Secretary: +64 3 372 0972
End CA:00230876 For:PGW Type:OFFICE Time:2012-12-07 17:00:10
