Frucor beverages have a new head for New Zealand, Kevin Bowler, who has just resigned from his role as chief executive of Tourism New Zealand after nearly seven years. He will leave at the end of October. Before joining Tourism NZ, he had been general manager of consumer marketing for Telecom and, more recently, CEO of Yahoo. Under his leadership, visitor spend has significantly increased due to targeted, digital-led marketing.
Bowler is set to begin his new role in November. “I'm excited about being a part of a business focused on leading positive change in the beverage industry, helping consumers to make better choices about the beverages they choose,” he told SupermarketNews. "I loved the idea 'Hunger for making drinks better' as soon as I heard it. If I can make a positive contribution to this purpose, that would be something to be very proud of."
He is eager to start. "My immediate goal is to get to know the business as quickly as I can by listening closely to what staff and customers have to say. This will provide a sound basis forming a view around where longer-term growth opportunities lie," Bowler said. "There’s no doubt Frucor has a rich history in New Zealand and an enviable track record creating innovative brands. The company has a strong set of values that are very authentic and set the tone nicely for a challenger brand with big aspirations."
Jonathan Moss, CEO of Frucor Group, is now looking forward to having him on board. “We were looking for someone with demonstrable leadership skills and a visionary style to lead our New Zealand business through an exciting period as we look to drive change in the beverages industry into the future.”
