With the ink barely dry on Agriculture Minister David Carter’s wool taskforce report, a convenor has been appointed to focus on one of its fundamental recommendations.

Mr Carter has announced the appointment of former Treasury secretary Murray Horn to lead the work toward forming a single body for the New Zealand wool industry.

Dr Horn is the chairman of the National Health Board and is on the board of Telecom. He has held senior executive roles with ANZ and was chief executive of the bank’s New Zealand operations.

“The government is serious about uniting the wool sector and moving it forward,” Mr Carter said.

“Securing a person of Dr Horn’s calibre gives me confidence that progress can be made quickly.”

Dr Horn’s role is to be an independent convenor to facilitate a meeting of wool sector organisations to being the process of creating a new body.

Mr Carter had previously said the industry must either unite in order to forge an economic future, or give up.