Chief Executive Officer

Fortuna Group Ltd; Invercargill City; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agribusiness in New Zealand is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to guide strategic growth and operational excellence. This role requires a proven leader within dairy farming or large agri-operations with a strong commitment to sustainability and community engagement. Join a dedicated board and a high-caliber leadership team in one of New Zealand's most productive regions.

Benefits

Impact through innovation

Work alongside a committed board

Leadership in a beautiful region

Qualifications

• Proven track record in senior leadership within dairy farming or large-scale agri-operations.
• High emotional intelligence and strong governance capabilities.
• Adept at stakeholder engagement and committed to social responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and evolve FGL’s strategic plan, including a 5–7 year strategy refresh.
• Implement systems-focused operational excellence across farm and business units.
• Build a high-performance culture through mentoring, development, and role clarity.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Governance

Financial agility

Commercial acumen

Job description

Overview

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Fortuna Group Ltd (FGL) is one of Southland’s leading corporate dairy farming businesses. With 24 dairy farms, over 16,500 cows and more than 7.7 million kgMS produced annually, Fortuna is proudly built on family values, innovation and sustainable farming excellence.

Recent acquisitions have positioned FGL well for further growth whilst achieving our goal of benchmarking in the top quartile of Southland dairy farms.

We're now seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead our next chapter of growth and performance.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will lead an experienced executive team and drive the operational, cultural, and strategic success of Fortuna Group. You will embed a consistent “business rhythm,” implement high-performing systems, and foster a values-driven culture aligned with our heritage and ambitions.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a significant New Zealand agribusiness while ensuring resilience, profitability, and industry leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver and evolve FGL’s strategic plan, including a 5–7 year strategy refresh
• Implement practices based on long term relevance for sustainability and having an intergenerational impact
• Embed systems-focused operational excellence across farm and business units
• Build a high-performance culture through mentoring, development, and role clarity
• Collaborate with the Board and CFO to maintain strong financial agility and foresight
• Lead a proactive Health & Safety and sustainability culture
• Strengthen enduring partnerships with stakeholders, shareholders and community

About You

Relentlessly driven to succeed, with a genuine need to win that translates into results for people, business, and shareholder

Proven track record in senior leadership within dairy farming or large-scale agri-operations

Commercially astute with strong governance and board reporting capabilities

Highly effective leader with strong emotional intelligence and intuition

Adept at stakeholder engagement, particularly in family and mixed shareholder businesses

Deeply connected to Rural communities and committed to social responsibilities

Why Join Fortuna?

Lead a top-performing dairy group with a proud legacy and strong shareholder base

Work alongside a committed board and high-calibre leadership team

Drive real impact through innovation, sustainability, and culture

Live and lead in Southland – one of NZ’s most productive and beautiful farming regions southlandnz.com/live-work/

"Enriching the world and generating opportunities."

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• How many years' experience do you have as a chief executive officer?
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