New appointment at Nelson Pine Industries Ltd

Nelson businessman Brian Rhoades has taken up a new appointment at Nelson Pine Industries Limited (NPIL).

Managing Director Murray Sturgeon announced today that Dr Rhoades had joined the company in the role of Chief Operating Officer.

"We are very pleased to welcome Brian to our staff," he said. "He brings a wealth of experience and skills to this role, which has responsibility for the production of both Medium Density Fibreboard and Laminated Veneer Lumber."

Dr Rhoades holds a PhD in mechanical engineering, and is a Fellow of both the Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand and the Institute of Directors. He was chief executive of Sealord Products Ltd from 1985 to 1994, and has extensive experience in company management, corporate governance and as a business consultant. He currently chairs Industrial Research Ltd, the Council of Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, and Nelson Electricity Ltd and serves on a number of other boards.

In taking up the new management position at Nelson Pine Industries, he will relinquish many of these roles.

NPIL is the South Island's largest processor of pine, utilising non-export quality resource from plantation forests in the Top of the South region. MDF production began in 1986 and now embraces three production lines, making it the world's largest single MDF production site. The company added LVL production in 2002. Product is supplied to domestic markets and exported to Australia, Asia, China, the USA and the Middle East.

Dr Rhoades said he is looking forward to the challenges of the new role.

"Engineered wood products have a great future as sustainable carbon neutral building materials, and Nelson Pine Industries is a quality company which adds value to New Zealand's forest estate," he said.

ENDS

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