Waitaki names line-up

Press, 13 September 1988, Page 23

Waitaki names line-up

Waitaki International has announced the executive structure for its new Wellington-based head office. Mr Barney Sundstrum has been appointed managing director while Richard Grant will be general manager, finance. Both men were previously employed by Goodman Fielder Wattie, Waitaki’s joint majority shareholder.

The other majority shareholder, Challenge Meats, will supply Mr Terry Cook, who will be South Island operations manager, and Mr Robert Hutton, who will be marketing manager. Casualties of Waitaki’s move north will be Mr Joe Ryan, who has been a company director and executive director of Waitaki for 41 years, and Mr Max Willyams, general manager processing for the South Island. Mr Jack Raffills, general manager processing for the North Island, will also be made redundant. The executive shake-up follows Waitaki’s closure of the Islington and Burnside . works in July with the loss of 1670 jobs. The company announced then that it would be moving its head office to Wellington.

Waitaki’s public relations manager, Mr John Bailey, said yesterday that it was not known how many of the company’s 180 head office employees would lose their jobs. The company was still deciding on the extent of its Christchurch operation and an announcement could be expected next week, Mr Bailey said.

The fate of Waitaki’s Kilmore Street head office building was unknown, although it would be used at least until the move north early next year. .