AgResearch boss quits

The head of New Zealand's largest Crown research institute has handed in his notice saying he is prepared to look at the private sector and offshore for his next opportunity.

Andy West announced his resignation as chief executive at AgResearch yesterday, saying there was a lot of opportunity in science, particularly in agritechnology, adding he had a few "irons in the fire".

He has headed AgResearch for the past six years and before that was the head of the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences.

He said he had experience in governance as a former director, in the tertiary sector and in finance and would look at all opportunities. He officially leaves on June 30.

Dr West said New Zealand wanted a renaissance in the public science sector and believed it may be coming, with a task force due to report back to the Government on the running of CRIs.

He said he had worked hard to nurture and grow capabilities and believed he had done a good job holding on to resources.

"We have had to downsize – that's just, I'm afraid, a reality in the scientific world or at least in the world of CRIs, but we have strongly built capability."

Dr West said there had been good work in regaining the trust of farmers. He was also proud of AgResearch's work in helping to create an agritechnology hub.

"AgResearch has played its part through Tokanui farm through to putting a case to Government for a food innovation network hub at Ruakura," he said.

AgResearch chairman Sam Robinson commended Dr West on his leadership of AgResearch.

"Dr West focused AgResearch where New Zealand most needs it – on the pastoral sector and its associated food and textile products," he said.