Mt Cook Alpine Salmon have announced the appointment of Todd Grave to the role of Chief Executive Officer

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon have announced the appointment of new CEO Todd Grave following an executive search by Baxter Executive Search.

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon is New Zealand’s leading Freshwater King Salmon producer and exporter. Board Chair Sir Bill English says the board is delighted to welcome a leader of Todd’s calibre to guide the company through its next phase of growth.

“Todd is an experienced CEO with deep expertise across New Zealand’s primary and food production sectors, having led teams and businesses in complex, fast-moving environments,” says English. “He brings a strong track record of driving growth and operational excellence, and has already spent significant time with our people, farms and processing operations.”

Todd joins Mt Cook Alpine Salmon after four years as chief executive of Meadow Mushrooms, New Zealand’s largest mushroom grower, and five years leading premium meat processor Blue Sky Meats. Prior to this, he spent almost a decade in senior marketing roles with Fonterra, based offshore.

“I’ve travelled extensively, but I’m a Southlander, and part of the appeal of this role was that it’s a Mainland-based business,” says Chief Executive Todd Grave. “I was particularly drawn to just how unique Mt Cook Alpine Salmon’s proposition is. Growing salmon at scale in pure glacial waters – no one else can say that.  And with demand continuing to outstrip supply across the sector, puts both us and the industry in a good position.”

Todd’s appointment comes as the company reports a record first quarter, following its strongest financial year to date, with revenue up 37% to $53.5 million.  Its artisan salmon brand, Aoraki, was also the only producer to win awards for two products at the recent New Zealand Food Awards.

“I’ve certainly got my timing right!” says Todd, who has spent the last six weeks getting to know the business and its people.

“There is a very solid growth plan for the next five years and a strong team that’s starting to see the results of their hard work. The strong financial performance reflects many years working to strengthen the business and de-risk aspects of what is, by nature, a biological system. I think the company is now beginning to fulfil the vision that shareholders have had for a very long time.”

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon is the largest employer in Twizel and has sites in Queenstown, Timaru, and Christchurch.