Retirement: Chief Executive, MAF
Retirement: Chief Executive, Ministry Of Agriculture
And
Forestry
Media Statement From The State
Services Commissioner
----------------------------------------------------
The State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham,
announced today that the chief executive of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry, Bruce Ross, would retire from the
Ministry and the Public Service on 30 April. By that time,
Professor Ross will have been head of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), and before that, the
Ministry of Agriculture, for nearly five years. He was
previously the head of Lincoln University, for 11 years.
Mr Wintringham said that Professor Ross had consolidated the position of the Ministry following the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Forestry, to become one department, in 1998.
More recently, Professor Ross has managed the dismantling of MAF Quality Management, which became two State-owned enterprises, AgriQuality New Zealand Ltd and Asure New Zealand Ltd.
Under Professor Ross, MAF has managed a model example of a major information technology project in the new meat certification system. Professor Ross has also worked with the chief executives of the other border agencies, notably the Customs Service, to make border processing more efficient for passengers and goods. He has also taken a personal interest in agricultural trade, and has chaired the OECD Committee for Agriculture for the last three years.
"Overall, Professor Ross has sealed the position of the new department in the sector and with other major State agencies. He has lent his substantial personal credibility to the job of building the reputation of the department.
"He has recognised the role of MAF in contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of New Zealand, and he has led the department into new areas in fulfilling that role" Mr Wintringham said.
Mr Wintringham said he expected to begin advertising for a new chief executive of the Ministry in the New Year.
ENDS
Further
information: Owen Gill, State Services Commission,
ph
04 495
6609.