Leadership change at Miraka

Taupo-based dairy company Miraka has begun searching for a new CEO following Karl Gradon’s recent departure for personal andfamily reasons.

Karl Gradon.

In the interim, chief operating officer Richard Harding has assumed leadership as acting CEO, to ensure a smooth transition, the company says.

Miraka chair Bruce Scott attributes much of its growth and success during the past three years to Gradon’s leadership and efforts in resetting the business for a strong future.

“Karl Gradon has successfully navigated Miraka through a significant period of change, leading the reorganisation of the business to set Miraka up for long-term, intergenerational success, as was envisioned by our founding leaders and shareholders.”

“There are many successes and wins we attribute to Karl’s leadership. This includes building a strong senior leadership team, evolving from single products to optimising customer focus and our portfolio of value-added products."

In a short period of time, Gradon rapidly diversified Miraka’s business model, customer offerings and base, as well as protecting and growing its milk supply, Scott says.

Gradon says leading the company has been rewarding both professionally and personally, and he is deeply proud of what it has accomplished.

“Our shareholders bestowed a set of values that I personally admire, and I look forward to seeing this values-based approach continue to flourish through the generations as our founders intended."

Miraka was founded in 2009. It began processing milk in 2011, now processes 300 million litres of milk annually, and produces UHT milk, frozen milk concentrate, frozen cream, and whole, skim and A2 milk powders for export worldwide.

It is majority owned by Wairarapa Moana Incorporation and Tuaropaki Kaitiaki, with Vietnam’s largest dairy company Vinamilk holding a 13.55 per cent stake.