Gunns Management Team comprises an experienced executive representative of our main business divisions.
Mr Newman was appointed as Chairman of Gunns in May 2010 and has been a Director of the Company since 2001. He has extensive experience in investment management, merger and acquisition and corporate finance activities. For more than 20 years prior to becoming a public company Director, Mr Newman was a member of the Australian Securities Exchange Limited. Mr Newman is also a current Director of Worldwide Entertainment Limited, Webjet Limited and Austero Limited.
Mr L’Estrange has been involved within the timber industry for over 20 years working for Boral Timber and CSR Timber Products. The last role was as CEO of CSR Timber, with assets of $1 billion operating throughout Australia and New Zealand, leading the turnaround of that business and the sale process that enabled CSR to exit its entire holding. This process far exceeded the market’s expectation. He previously held the position of managing director of Capral Aluminium from 2000 to 2004.
Mr Chapman was appointed to the position of Company Secretary in 1997. He joined the company in 1994 and worked in various accounting roles and positions before being appointed to the position of Company Secretary. He has previous experience in finance and secretarial roles. Mr Chapman is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
Mr Frame was appointed as Chief Financial Officer for Gunns Limited in November 2011. In addition to CFO duties Mr Frame is responsible for corporate communications and key stakeholder relations. He has also overseen environmental and financial management for the Bell Bay Pulp Mill Project. Mr Frame has extensive experience in the forestry industry. He is a qualified forester and economist and has been employed in the sector since 1995.
Mr Blanden has considerable managerial experience operating managed investment schemes. He has overseen the development of the full list of Gunns Plantations Ltd’s managed investment schemes since inception in 1999. In addition, Ian is responsible for overseeing Gunns Ltd’s plantation establishment and maintenance operations in both Tasmania and NSW and as such has been responsible for the establishment of in excess of 20,000 hectares of plantation per annum, the maintenance of an estate of over 145,000 hectares of plantation, over 200 hectares of vineyard and 1,200 hectares of walnut orchard. Mr Blanden has over 20 years experience in the forest industry and has a degree in forest science from the ANU. Mr Blanden is Director of the Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group (TAPG).
Mr Hayes is responsible for forest operations, wood fibre production and sales in Tasmania, including the Fibre Technology facility at Ridgley and pine operations in the northwest. He has a Bachelor of Business from UTAS and has worked in the Tasmanian forestry industry for 36 years.
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