Moana New Zealand’s new CEO has been named as Steve Tarrant, who has nine years’ experience within the company and more than 25 years’ experience in the industry in various companies across New Zealand.
During his time with New Zealand’s largest Iwi-owned premium seafood company, Mr Tarrant has successfully established and supported Iwi partnerships such as the Iwi Collective Partnership and Port Nicholson Fisheries. He has also supported investment in Māori fishing with the new vessel, the Santy Maria, and the wider industry with projects like Precision Seafood Harvesting and the establishment of Trident Systems.
Moana New Zealand board chairman, Whaimutu Dewes, said: “He has a deep understanding of our business having lived our values for the last nine years. The Board is confident he will provide the leadership to meet the challenges of the immediate future and to realise our strategy of driving greater value from the seafood we carefully harvest.”
Fresh focus
Mr Tarrant led the transformation of the company’s inshore Fin Fish part of the business by merging Moana Pacific and OPC to form AFL Inshore, shifting the focus from frozen to fresh and consolidating Auckland processing sites to enable better product utilisation and a more efficient processing footprint.
Mr Tarrant said: “It’s an honour to be appointed and I’m committed to ensuring Moana New Zealand continues to strive for the greatest value for all of our shareholders. We’ve got a committed and outstanding team in place and it’s my privilege to help steer the Moana New Zealand waka.”
