The Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) Board has announced the appointment of Rhys Griffiths as the interim chief executive, effective June 10. This decision comes after an unexpected change in circumstances for the originally anticipated new chief executive, who withdrew due to personal family reasons.
"While we were excited to welcome a new leader, unforeseen changes required us to adjust our plans," the DINZ Board shared in a statement.
"We respect his transparency and have mutually agreed to release him from his contract to prioritise his family."
Rhys Griffiths, currently a pivotal figure in leading value chains and international markets for DINZ, will now step into the interim chief executive role. The Board expressed confidence in Griffiths, noting his capability to maintain the organisation's momentum and strategic direction. "Rhys will be supported by the DINZ Chair and Board, ensuring continuity and progress in our ongoing initiatives," they affirmed.
Despite the setback in the executive search, the Board remains optimistic. "We are grateful for the agility and support of the DINZ team and our partners during this transition," the Board acknowledged. "Significant progress has been made over the past four months, and this work will continue as we refine our strategic focus."
The renewed search for a permanent chief executive is already underway, with the aim of finding a candidate who shares DINZ's vision for industry growth and development. "We are confident that our renewed executive search will identify other strong candidates," the Board stated, adding that they are committed to completing the recruitment in a timely manner.
In the meantime, the Board reassured stakeholders of their confidence in Griffiths. "DINZ is in good hands with Rhys at the helm as interim CE. This gives us the time needed to find the right person for the job."
DINZ looks forward to ongoing support from its partners and aims to continue fostering prosperity, sustainability, and growth within the industry.
