Foodstuffs North Island Ltd welcomes Joanna Allan as Chief Financial Officer, starting mid-January 2017. Jo brings more than 20 years of FMCG finance and leadership experience to the table, and she is also an engineer who offers a unique diversity of thought when it comes to strategic vision and planning. Her arrival comes at a time when such diversity is essential to the business’ future direction.
Chris Quin, CEO, Foodstuffs North Island, says, “The shape of retail is changing rapidly; in the way customers shop with us, the products our suppliers are delivering and the expectations shoppers have of our service offering and systems. Smart financial planning and management enables us to be as entrepreneurial and innovative as possible, all while being more competitive and agile.”
As one of New Zealand’s largest companies and employers, Foodstuffs North Island plays a hugely important role, investing extensively in store, product and people development. Quin says, “Jo’s role as CFO will see her develop and deliver a financial and strategic plan to maintain and grow the business at a very exciting time. Her diverse experience in FMCG and the food and beverage industry will stand her in good stead as we embrace the challenge of doing business in the ‘new normal’.”
Jo has held senior finance, strategy, leadership and transformation roles for a number of leading companies including Frucor, Danone, Fonterra, Tegel and Lion.
“I am delighted to be joining Foodstuffs North Island. I’ve worked very closely with many of the household names on our supermarket shelves and understand just how important it is to ensure New Zealanders continue to enjoy the best value products in the best shopping environments,” says Jo.
“While I won’t necessarily be out there checking the already well-engineered stores and DCs we operate, I will be taking great satisfaction in crafting a finely balanced plan with Chris and the fantastic team on hand. Our role is to help deliver an exceptional shopper experience – and retain and extend our leadership in a competitive market.”
Jo holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and is a CPA.
