Business leader turned mandarin grower

Former chairman of T&G Global and mandarin grower Tony Gibbs passed away in mid-June aged 72 after a period of ill health.

By Glenys Christian

Tony was born in Britain but attended school in west Auckland after his parents emigrated. Starting work as an office junior in Auckland he travelled extensively, which led him to launch his own import company which he sold in 1978. During the 1980s he worked for Brierley Investments then for Guinness Peat Group in the following decade, where he became executive director. He was a director of Turners & Growers, becoming chairman in 1995. He was chairman of forestry and wood products company Tenon, and held directorships on Enza, Rubicon, Turners Auctions, Tower, Coats, Vector and Wrightson. He was prominent in the battle in the 1990s for Zespri to lose its monopoly on kiwifruit exports. His services to business were recognised when he received the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009. During his 16-year chairmanship of T&G Global he took it from its domestic fruit and vegetable seller roots to become an international fresh produce company. It introduced new apple varieties Envy and Jazz to customers during this time. “Under Tony’s leadership and strategic direction, T&G reshaped its business to focus on its core strength of fresh produce and expanded its global footprint,” the company’s chief executive Gareth Edgecombe said. In 2011 Tony announced his intention to step down from the role of chairman. But his lifelong dedication and commitment to supplying fresh produce to communities saw him continue his relationship with the company as a key supplier of mandarins from his Matakana orchard, north of Auckland. He had bought 25ha of land initially, and after reading about the crop starting in New Zealand, decided to plant an orchard which quickly grew to over 60ha with 55,000 trees. Ezypeel production topped 1,000 tonnes a year with 70 workers employed during harvest. Gareth Edgecombe said T&G Global was in mourning as Tony’s wide experience in the industry had been invaluable to the company. It was very grateful to him and his family for their passion, commitment and lifelong relationship and sent heartfelt condolences to his wife Val, family and friends.