Zespri appoints Tim Mackle as chief supply chain officer

Tim Mackle has been appointed as Zespri’s new chief supply chain officer moving on from his role as acting chief operating officer.

The appointment was announced in an update from CEO Jason Te Brake, who said the appointment represents a continuity in leadership across Zespri’s supply chain.

Mackle was appointed chief operating officer in July 2024 after joining Zespri in October 2023 as head of global quality. Before joining Zespri had roles with gonterra and served as DairyNZ’s chief executive for more than 15 years.

“Over the last year, Tim has served as acting chief operating officer and I am grateful for his overall leadership of a function that includes our New Zealand Supply, Global Supply Chain Development and Insights, Market Supply Chain, and Global Quality teams,” said Te Brake.

“He has worked closely with growers, and our post-harvest and industry leaders, ensuring we’ve maintained a collaborative approach in delivering significantly more volume in recent years, including returning good value in the 2024/25 season. Tim has a genuinely inclusive, people-centric approach, coupled with a collaborative mindset and a strong focus on achieving positive outcomes.

Mackle said he was genuinely excited to step into the role of chief supply chain officer.

“Since joining Zespri, I’ve felt a strong connection to the organisation’s purpose and the people within our industry who are so passionate about taking our kiwifruit to the world,” said Mackle.

“This opportunity allows me to continue contributing to an industry I care deeply about, and to work with our talented team here at Zespri, our growers, and our post-harvest and industry partners, to strengthen our global supply chain. I’m looking forward to building on the great momentum we’ve created and helping deliver even greater value for our growers, partners, and customers.”