NZ Panels Group Veneer ‘Dream Team’

NZ Panels Group is the largest producer of interior veneer panels in the industry by a significant margin. The focus has always been on quality first and in recent years the company, which promotes its veneer under both the Bestwood and Prime Panel brands, has invested heavily in both staff and machinery to maintain its leading position.

The most recent addition to the team is Johnny Dobbyn, taking on the newly created role of Veneer Category Manager, which will see him supporting the specification and sales teams on veneer projects and working with leading architecture, construction and joinery firms on major projects, but also carrying out industry training.

Johnny will be well known to many through his previous sales and business development role at JSC Timber and prior to that at Timspec. He has an incredible depth of knowledge around veneer, plywood and solid timber and helped introduce Accoya and Lunawood to the NZ market. Starting out his career as a furniture maker he's spent his entire career being passionate about all things wood.

Johnny reports to Matt Miller, the Manufacturing Operations Manager who has a 30 year history in the industry and a deep understanding of all things relating to veneer. Matt has recently overseen the installation of a new veneer slicing operation near Thames.

The veneer slicer is primarily being used to supply a good volume of NZ native veneer to the market, along with locally sourced Macrocarpa and other species that become available from time to time. Our Wood Source Manager, Guy Stewart, based on the West Coast of the South Island joined the company three years ago and is key in securing a supply of sustainable quality native timber and ensuring it complies with our stringent Track my Tree sustainability criteria. (now a finalist in the Sustainable Business Awards)

Just over a year ago, the team was further bolstered by the appointment of Mark Demus to the position of Technical Support Manager. Handily, Mark joined

NZ Panels Group after many years at Mirotone so is able to provide expert advice on all matters relating to finishing and coating.

With its longstanding history of veneer production, the company has produced a range of helpful technical and training resources and videos for joiners, designers and architects – all easily found on either the Prime Panels or Bestwood websites.