New Zealand-based childrenswear retailer Pumpkin Patch (PPL) will welcome two new directors to the board following a "comprehensive search process".
The company, which announced in January that it would be binning its UK retail operations, has appointed Rod Duke as a non-executive director from this month, and Peter Schuyt as an independent non-executive director. Schuyt will join the board in August.
Duke, who has previously held a number of senior management roles with retail organisations across Australia, is currently deputy chairman and group managing director of Briscoe Group Limited.
Similarly, Schuyt is also currently a director of a number of organisations including Tatua Dairy Company, Port Nelson, and Landcare Research. Prior to this he held senior management roles with New Zealand Dairy Board, New Zealand Milk Products, and New Zealand Post.
Commenting on the appointment of these two new directors, Pumpkin Patch chairperson Jane Freeman said the duo's previous experience would serve to strengthen the business going forward.
“We are delighted to have two high calibre and experienced directors joining the board. Rod’s retail, supply chain, and procurement experience is well known and we are looking forward to him using that experience to support the company execute its long term strategies in those critical areas of our business,” she said.
“Peter also has considerable commercial executive finance experience and has held a variety of positions at a diverse range of organisations. He has spent many years with organisations that operate international distribution models; this experience will be invaluable as Pumpkin Patch follows its international growth strategies into the future.”
Freeman also revealed that, as the company's current chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee, David Jackson, will not be seeking re-election at this year’s annual shareholders meeting, Schuyt will also be taking on this additional role.
“Peter will be appointed chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee when David stands down,” she said.
“With Peter joining us in August there will be a good transition period before David leaves the board in November.”