New Exec Team Structure

The growth of SCH has seen a new structure in our executive team. The new roles of General Manager (GM) Operations, GM People and Culture, and Innovation Manager have been introduced. Furthermore, there is new leadership in the Construction, Contracting, Establishment, and Nursery business units with changes in Business Unit Managers.

Phil Mounter, previously the Construction Business Manager, has stepped into the role of GM Operations. Phil brings to the SCH team 15 years of experience in orchard development, construction, and operations. Three of these years were spent in Japan, developing G3 kiwifruit orchards. In Phil’s new role he oversees the Construction, Nursery, Contracting, and Cropping business unit leaders.

Lee Du Preez, previous Head of People and Culture has moved into the role of GM People and Culture. In this new role she is responsible for recruitment and maintaining a high-performance culture as well as overseeing People and Culture, Health and Safety, and the Seasonal Labour Unit.

Matt Ryan has transitioned into the recently created role of Innovation Manager. Matt’s experience as the Establishment Operations Manager at SCH for two years, eight years as an orchard manager, and his drive to innovate will see him identify and implement new innovations within SCH. Matt is excited to support the SCH business units to create and manage world class kiwifruit orchards.

Josh Mounter has stepped into the role of Construction Business Manager, in this role Josh manages the infrastructure and construction phase across all the SCH orchard developments. Josh comes from a background of working within a range of primary industries and joined SCH in February 2021 as a Project Manager in the Construction team.

Furthermore, Tom Watt and Phil Williams have recently joined the SCH team. Tom is the Contracting Business Manager, leading the Contracting team which provide the contracting requirements to the cropping and establishment business units. Tom comes from a business background, having run his own manufacturing and importing business for the last 16 years. Phil Williams has joined SCH as the Establishment Business Manager. Phil comes from a background in rural banking and finance, working in New Zealand and abroad for 18 years.

Christine Nelson has stepped into the role of Nursery Business Manager. Christine was previously in the role of grower and 2IC operations in the nursery business unit, she has been at SCH for four years and brings over 25 years’ experience working in the nursery industry to the SCH team.

Read more about the SCH exec team here.