HAL

John Lloyd has been named as the new chief executive officer of Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL), the national research, development and marketing organisation for the country's horticulture industry.

Mr Lloyd is due to take up the role at the start of November, replacing acting CEO Vanessa Goss.

HALchairman Dr Nigel Steele Scott said: 'John has extensive experience inagriculture with practical farmers as well as experience in businessmanagement in agriculture and marketing. We are delighted with hisappointment.'

Mr Lloyd commented: 'I’m really excited about workingin an industry that shows such exciting growth prospects over the nextfive to 10 years.'

Mr Lloyd’s appointment comes as HAL isabout to embark on a strategic planning process to set the company's direction to 2015.

'The strategic planning work gives me the opportunity to getinvolved with all the stakeholders in the industry and work tocoordinate common objectives,' Mr Lloyd said.

'The board wishes to both thank and congratulate Vanessa for theskill and dedication she has displayed while acting in the role,' DrSteele Scott added.

HAL isa not-for-profit, industry-owned company which works in partnership withAustralia’s horticulture industries to invest almost A$90m (€53.2m)annually in research, development and marketing programmes designed to providebenefit to the industry and the wider community.

Until recently, MrLloyd ran a management consultancy specialising in operational andstrategic advice to agricultural clients.

He was previously chief executive officer and vice-president of Case New Holland Australia and New Zealand and generalmanager of commercial operations at Incitec Pivot.