Primary ITO appoints Mark Darrow as new Chair
The industry training organisation for the primary sector, Primary ITO, is pleased to announce the appointment of their new Board Chair – Mark Darrow.
Mark will replace current Chair, John Parker, at the ITO’s Annual General Meeting to be held on the 25th of May 2016.
Mark has been a Primary ITO Board member for the past year, and has extensive primary industry experience including six years in CEO and Advisor roles within the PGG Wrightson group. He is a professional director with significant Chair experience.
His current directorships include one of New Zealand’s largest produce growers – Balle Bros Group – and other corporates such as Motor Trade Association, The Lines Company, Courier Solutions, VTNZ, Armstrong Motor Group and tech company Signum Holdings. Mark is also a chartered member of the Institute of Directors and is C.A (Chartered Accountant) qualified.
“I am honoured to be appointed as the new Chair of Primary ITO. I am passionate about the primary and educational sectors, so having this combination in a role is fantastic,” Mark says.
“The Primary ITO Board, as well as the organisation itself, is made up of a very talented, hardworking and engaged group of people. The Board is focussed on what Primary ITO needs to deliver to the various industry groups we support, and I look forward to actively continuing and improving that work,” he says.
Outgoing Chair, John Parker, successfully led the ITO through a transitional period. “I joined the Primary ITO Board as the transitional Chair in February 2014 when Primary ITO and the New Zealand Industry Training Organisation (NZITO) merged,” John says.
“It has been a pleasure to serve a great organisation, and it is in very good heart. The quite complex merger with concurrent staff and director changes has gone well, and this is a testament to the effort that has gone in by all.”
John believes the organisation is in good hands with Mark. “Mark Darrow will do a great job and leads an enthusiastic and competent Board and Executive,” he says.
Mark is pleased to take over the role with the organisation in good stead.
“I need to pay tribute to the retiring Chair, John Parker, who has played a critical role in the organisation as it moved through the transition after the mergers. His diligence and fortitude through a more difficult period has been invaluable. We will certainly miss having him around the board table.”
