Managing Director and CEO Announced, page-56

'Safe pair of hands'

Milford Asset Management's Will Curtayne said the appointment looked like a "safe pair of hands", adding that the fund also valued the input of chief operating officer Peter Nathan.

Mr Hearn said Mr Bortolussi's approach in presenting his plans for a2 to the board was one sign they had found the right fit.

"He approached it rather than let me impress how I have 10 much more clever ideas than you about the business ... he was open-minded about the way we were doing it, but prepared to be brave enough to say he wasn't sure what we are doing is necessarily perfect," he said.

Mr Bortolussi's experience doing business in China will also be important, particularly as the relationship between Australia and China deteriorates.

"As the geopolitical situation worsens we need to be more nuanced and more clever, we are emphasising the fact, for a start, that we are a New Zealand company and all the products in China are New Zealand-sourced."

In a statement, Hanes Australasia said Mr Bortolussi, who previously worked at Foster's Group, had made an "extraordinary contribution to the organisation" during his 11 years at Hanes, and that it had begun a process for a new chief executive. Hanes' brands include Bonds, Berlei, Brans N Things, Champion and Sheridan.

Spencer Stuart advised on the board of the process.