South Australian grower-owned cooperative Lenswood Apples has appointed a new chief executive as it shrugs off the past two poor seasons and looks to build volumes, re-establish exports and expand new varieties.
The appointment of Shane Chisholm, a long-term Elders national team member, and most recently at cooling and heating firm Seeley International, heralds a renewed confidence in the outlook by the Adelaide Hill-based coop, which was hit hard by two successive year’s hail impacting regional crops and coop volumes.
Lenswood chairman Iain Evans said the appointment, 18-months after the position was vacated, was an indication that the apple industry and the coop were recovering.
In addition to rebuilding volumes, he said it would be looking to the new CEO to drive innovation and product development, including expanding the existing range of managed varieties.
“It is a positive step,” Iain said. “It’s exciting to get someone of Shane’s calibre, who comes from an agricultural background, with experience of exporting and of grower communities, who understands the seasonality of agricultural industries. Just as importantly, he brings a sense of values and integrity.”
Lenswood was established in 1933 and is owned by 25 Adelaide Hills growers. It is the Australian manager of the branded apples Rockit®, MiApple® and Redlove®.
Iain said innovation and product development would play a role in rebuilding volumes and markets. “The co op stores, packs and sells,” he said. “Increasing volume, re-establishing exports and broadening new varieties will be a priority.”
Iain expressed particular thanks to Conrad Guerra who had taken on the acting CEO role in addition to his existing finance role over the past two years.
Shane starts as CEO on 10 October
For more information: 
Lenswood Cooperative
Tel: +61 08 8389 8300
Email: info@lenswoodcoop.com.au
www.lenswoodcoop.com.au