OUR TEAM
John McWhirter
Chief Executive
John joined Wools of New Zealand in January 2020. John is an experienced CEO, known for his robust leadership approach, decision making qualities and directive nature. He most recently led Hellers through a period of solid expansion and export growth.
John isn't entirely new to the primary sector having spent some time with PGG Wrightson. Johns roles in the food sector at George Weston, Tegel and Mars means that John also brings experience in creating customer led value propositions and products whilst matching supply capability to customer needs. John prides himself on building brands and driving outcomes in competitive environments whilst maintaining long term positive relationships - critical qualities in the wool industry.
+64 (0)27 332 3049 john.mcwhirter@woolsnz.com
Steven Parsons
General Manager Sales & Marketing - UK BASED
Based in Yorkshire UK, Steve hails from New Zealand. He's our bloke in the Northern Hemisphere working with manufacturers and retailers to build and promote woolly things. Get in touch if you are a manufacturer or brand wanting to connect with us. We can sort you out with our amazing wool that we often grow especially for our customers, and an authentic connection with the people who grow the world's best fibre.
We have ambitious plans and clever ideas that will put strong wool back in its rightful place as the world's most loved fibre. If you are bored with plastic and want to be part of something wonderful give Steve a call.
+44 7774 233625 steven.parsons@woolsnz.com
David Smith
Market Development Manager
David brings passion promoting the many benefits of wool carpet together with 40 years carpet industry experience within retail & wholesale distribution, carpet installation/maintenance/manufacturing, tufted/woven specification, and carpet design.
Acknowledged for providing expert technical advice, developing individualised solutions across all commercial & residential segments that meet required budget and projected wear live requirements. Demonstrating a professional customer focus with superior service delivery and consistently aiming to exceed expectations to provide a positive experience.
David leads an active lifestyle, playing golf, mountain biking, following sport especially rugby and cricket, also making time to socialise and spend time with family and friends.
+64 3974 1805 david.smith@woolsnz.com
Aaron Wells
Market Development Manager
Aaron is our guy up north, based in Auckland and taking care of our flooring business in the North Island.
A sales and account management professional having spent the last 12 years within the flooring trade, Aaron has earned a fabulous reputation on the back of very high levels of service delivered with honour and integrity. A trusted ear and learned advisor within the business.
Tasked with developing business partnerships in the North Island and nationally, Aaron is the person to contact should you wish to join the Wools of New Zealand movement as one of our partners to market or if you have a development opportunity for which you would like to discuss flooring options.
Aaron resides in the small country village of Clevedon with his wife and 2 young children and will often remove his Wools of New Zealand hat to don a helmet and throw dirt around on his dirt bike.
021 1984193 aaron.wells@woolsnz.com
Bridget Russell
Grower Liaison - Lower South Island
Bridget is based in Tapanui and covers the South Island area. She is passionate about farming and is focused on the fact that primary producers need to be rewarded for all their hard work in producing a quality product. She finds that working for a grower-owned company that is evolving and becoming a key player in a hard industry is a rewarding role.
Growers should contact Bridget for any enquiries. She will be more than happy to either assist current suppliers or introduce new suppliers to the Wools of New Zealand philosophy.
+ 64 27 220 4737 bridget.russell@woolsnz.com
Jan Ross
Grower Liaison - Upper North Island and Eastern North Island
Jan helps bridge growers and consumers. The Grower Liaisons are the essence of what we do, creating connections between consumers and the people who grow the world's most sustainable wool. Jan assists our North Island growers with transacting wool through the Direct-2-Scour process. Jan can keep you informed of new sales opportunities, whether it be forward contracts, the Natural Fibre Exchange or the Tender Platform.
+64 21 897 662 jan.ross@woolsnz.com
Andrew Marriott
Supply Chain Manager
Andrew is our go to guy for getting things moving and brings expertise to Wools of New Zealand that enables us to be smart and efficient operators.
Andrew gets our wool and our carpets into every knook and cranny of the globe, ensuring speed is fast, cost is low and our customers are delighted.
+64 3 974 1809 andrew.marriott@woolsnz.com
Ivan Gullidge
Wool Manager
With over twenty-five years of extensive wool industry experience, Ivan manages wool broking, trading and processing.
Ivan knows all there is to know about wool, where to source it and how to prepare it in just the right way for our customers and our own products.
Ivan is the key bloke that helps match the market demand to our wool growers paddocks. This is partly how we ensure Wools of New Zealand fibre is perfect for the textiles it creates.
+64 3974 1805 ivan.gullidge@woolsnz.com
Fiona McIlraith
Chief Financial Officer
Fiona leads the finance, wool and procurement teams responsible for co-ordination of supply from farm to market. Originally from a farming sheep and beef background she has many years of international financial market experience in US, UK/Europe and Australia. She was drawn to WNZ to help us “change the game” and is extremely passionate about helping bring more value to growers beyond the farm gate.
+64 3974 1805 fiona.mcilraith@woolsnz.com
Nicola Attwood
Wool Team Administrator
Nicola has worked in the wool industry for over twenty years and now works alongside Ivan and Thomas on shipping documentation, wool tender, invoicing plus other administrative tasks.
Nicola likes to spend her time outside of work with family and friends plus cycling and gardening.
+64 3 974 1805 nicola.attwood@woolsnz.com
Robert Jardim
Senior Accountant
Robert is a passionate professional who has great experience and knowledge in accounting, group structures and strategy.
+64 3 974 1806 robert.jardim@woolsnz.com
Thomas Dravitzki
Wool Procurement & Operations Assistant
Thomas joins us fresh from Lincoln University and has experience working on dairy, sheep, and pig farms. as well as having worked with Asure quality doing crop certification.
Tom enjoys surfing and skiing
+64 3 974 180 thomas.dravitzki@woolsnz.com
