Sir

Graeme Harrison

KNZM
Harrison in 2017
Born
Graeme Thomas Harrison

(1948-11-13) 13 November 1948
Methven, New Zealand
Known forFounder of ANZCO Foods

Sir Graeme Thomas Harrison KNZM (born 13 November 1948) is a New Zealand business executive. He was the driving force behind ANZCO Foods, which is New Zealand's fifth-largest exporter. He was at the helm of ANZCO Foods for 34 years until his retirement in 2018.

Early life

Harrison was born in Methven in 1948. He received his education at Methven District High School, at Ashburton College, and at the University of Canterbury. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1969 and a Master of Arts with honours in 1971. He undertook further study at the Manchester Business School, where he graduated in 1979.[1]

Business career

From 1976 to 1979, Harrison was the London-based commercial manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers Board. From 1980 to 1983, he was the board's Assistant General Manager based in Wellington. From 1984, he was Managing Director of the Asian New Zealand Meat Company Limited, known under its trading name ANZCO Foods.[1] He founded the company while he was in Japan.[2] Initially, ANZCO Foods was owned through the New Zealand Meat Producers Board by individual farmers.[3] In 1989, Japanese company Itoham Foods and ANZCO formed a 50–50 partnership and founded Five Star Beef, a company that operates a feedlot in Wakanui near Ashburton; this is New Zealand's largest feedlot and mainly exports to Japan.[4][5] In 1995, the ANZCO management team led a buy-out of the company from the Meat Producers Board, with Itoham Foods taking a 48.3% minority shareholding and another Japanese company, Nissui (Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd), taking a smaller shareholding.[4] Through that buy-out, the initial investment of NZ$350,000 returned over NZ$40m to the original owners.[3] ANZCO Foods started operating under the new ownership arrangement on 17 August 1995.[6]

In 2015, founder Harrison announced that he intended to retire in the near future. In the accompanying restructure in shareholding, Harrison sold down from just over 20% to 14%.[7][8] In late 2017, Itoham Foods received Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approval to become to sole owner by obtaining the remaining 35% shareholding. Harrison retired from the company after the March 2018 annual general meeting; he had been at the helm of the company for 34 years, with his initial position of managing director followed as chairperson from 2004.[2][9][10]

Family and private life

In 1971, Harrison married Barbara Jean Buchly. They have three children; two girls (born 1973 and 1977) and one boy (born 1981).[1] Harrison retired to Methven but takes an active role in a sheep and beef farm operated by his second daughter and her husband at nearby Alford Forest.[4]

It was announced in September 2021 that Harrison was appointed to the board of the New Zealand National Party.[11]

Honours and awards

Harrison was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal for services to international trade.[1] In the 2011 Birthday Honours, Harrison was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to business.[12] In 2012, he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Commerce degree by Lincoln University.[2] Harrison was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2017.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Taylor, Alister (1998). New Zealand who's who Aotearoa. Auckland: NZ Who's Who Publications. p. 345.
  2. 1 2 3 "Graduation Programme". Lincoln University. 2012. p. 34. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 Cronshaw, Tim (29 May 2015). "Larger Japanese stake in Anzco gains OIO approval". Stuff. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "Retiring meat industry leader goes farming". Stuff. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Peden, Robert (24 November 2008). "Five Star feed lot". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "Anzco Foods Ltd". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "ANZCO share sale bid". Otago Daily Times. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Case 201510023 – Itoham Foods Inc". Land Information New Zealand. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Boot, Sophie (19 December 2017). "Japan's Itoham Yonekyu buys remaining share of Anzco Foods". National Business Review. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  10. ↑ Rae, Sally (16 January 2018). "Single owner for Anzco". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Sir Graeme Harrison joins National Party Board". www.national.org.nz. New Zealand National Party. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2011". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Past laureates". Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
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