Lain Jager

Lain Jager is best known for his time with the hugely successful kiwifruit marketer Zespri, a $2.3B kiwifruit marketing and innovation company exporting 450,000 tonnes of kiwifruit annually to 53 markets from 5 supply locations, where he served as CEO from 2008 to 2017. 

During his tenure as CEO, Zespri grew strongly through the impact and recovery from the bacterial vine disease pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa-V), grower returns doubled, and the share price grew from $1.00 to $8.00. 

Today, Lain is involved in a range of investment projects in tourism and agribusiness, serves as a director on several boards, acts as a strategic advisor to a small number of companies, and is Chairman of New Zealand’s Primary Sector Council, which was established in April 2018 by the Minister of Agriculture to create a vision for the primary sector and provide independent advice to government on issues facing the sector.

The Primary Sector Council’s vision for New Zealand’s agriculture, food and fibres sector is to be a world leader in modern regenerative production systems that are Fit for a Better World. 

Primary Sector Council Chair Lain Jager says Fit for A Better World is about providing the world’s most discerning consumers with outstanding, ethically produced food, natural fibres, drinks, co-products and bio-products.