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Anton Rabe has been named as the new executive director ofHortgro Services, a new entity which has taken over operationalindustry services for South Africa's deciduous fruit industry andfunctions for a range of industry bodies from the Deciduous FruitProducers' Trust.

Stephan Weist, former director of Chiquita Germany &Austria, has officially taken up the role of managing director atLandgard Group, Germany’s largest marketing organisation for flowersand plants and a major supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables. Togetherwith fellow directors Peter Knüttgen and Marc Beckmann,Mr Weist heads up a new management team reported to be embarking on asignificant restructuring and expansion of Landgard’s fresh producebusiness.

French interprofessional organisation Interfel has appointed Bruno Dupont,president of French producers’ federation FNPF, to the post of generalsecretary as it bids to focus on long-term structural challenges withinthe sector.

UK food retailer Tesco has promoted Colin Holmes,its commercial director for fresh food, to the company’s executivecommittee. Mr Holmes has worked at Tesco for more than 20 years and waspreviously the group’s finance director for the UK and Ireland andchief executive officer of its convenience store division.

Espen Larsenhas stepped down as managing director of discount food retailer Aldi’sDanish operations, it has been revealed. Local press reports suggestedMr Larsen would be joining German retailer Rewe Group.

Ottavio Guala,president of the Italian wholesale market federation Fedagro Mercati,has been named as Ortofrutta Italia, the interprofessional body aimedat raising standards within, and awareness of, the Italian freshproduce sector. Antonio Schiavelli and Fabio Moschella have been named as the organisation’s two new vice-presidents.

John Lloydhas been named as the new chief executive officer of HorticultureAustralia Limited (HAL), the national research, development andmarketing organisation for the country’s horticulture industry. MrLloyd replaces acting CEO Vanessa Goss.