Top forestry scientist Tom Richardson is to replace Andy West as chief executive of AgResearch.Dr Richardson, 48, is head of the Rotorua-based Forest Research Institute, known as Scion. He will take up his new role on September 15 and move to Hamilton.Ori
Top forestry scientist Tom Richardson is to replace Andy West as chief executive of AgResearch.
Dr Richardson, 48, is head of the Rotorua-based Forest Research Institute, known as Scion. He will take up his new role on September 15 and move to Hamilton.
Originally from the US, he has worked in New Zealand science for 20 years. He has spent 18 years with Scion, 13 as a practising scientist and science manager, and the past five as chief executive officer.
His science background is in genetics and he established the genomics research group at Scion and a spin-out company, SignaGen, which brought high-throughput DNA testing to the New Zealand ag-bio sector.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Bucknell University and a doctorate in Botany from Pennsylvania State University.
In addition to his role as Scion’s CEO, Richardson holds a number of science-related directorships including the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, Future Forests Research and Science New Zealand, of which he is also deputy chairman.
AgResearch chairman Sam Robinson said Richardson was a science innovation sector leader and would bring to his new position the strategic and commercial qualities that had underpinned his success at Scion.
