Stuart Gordon is new CEO at Waikato Innovation Park

There's been a friendly change in top management at the Waikato Innovation Park in New Zealand. Stuart Gordon (pictured here; right) was named interim CEO of the park by its board yesterday. Gordon had previously been Global Development Director of Waikato Innovation Park's subsidiary, Dairy SolutioNZ.

Waikato Innovation Park brands itself as New Zealand's only agri-focused technology park. It houses 50 businesses employing around 450 staff on its 17 hectare campus near the University of Waikato.

Former CEO Derek Fairweather (pictured below, left) held the job for 9 years. Fairweather stepped aside to become the  full time head at Dairy SolutioNZ. Dairy SolutioNZ until recently was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Park but has since been spun out as a stand-alone entity. Waikato Innovation Park and Fairweather each have 25% ownership in Dairy SolutioNZ. The other 50% is held in trust while outside investment is sought.

Chairman of Waikato Innovation Park, Michael Spaans, said "In Derek’s nine years as CEO, he has led a team who has established Australasia’s only technology park solely focused on growing agri-technology businesses. He built up the Park from nothing but a bare paddock and, he tells me, only $30,000 in the bank account. The Park now has $30 million on its balance sheet, which is a position largely attributable to Derek’s leadership".

for more information see:

http://acceleratorgazette.com/content/nzs-waikato-innovation-park-lookin...

http://www.innovationwaikato.co.nz/dairy-solutioNZ--NZ--Ltd

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/7769761/Fairweather-to-hea...

http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/ceo-takes-new-challenge-waikato-innovatio...

http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/interim-ceo-waikato-innovation-park-appoi...