Nikki Johnson has been appointed as the new CEO of New Zealand Kiwifruit Grower Inc, and will assume the new role from April 11.

NZKGI Chairman Doug Brown says this is an exciting opportunity for NZKGI to bring on board Nikki's energy and passion for the horticulture industry and to support NZKGI's strategic direction.

Nikki Johnson is the new CEO of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc.

Nikki has managed NZ Citrus Growers Inc for more than 10 years, transitioning the industry from a voluntary grower organisation to a professional organisation with sustainable, compulsory levy funding and a strategic approach to investment of grower funds.

She is also a founding director of Market Access Solutionz, a specialist biosecurity, regulatory systems, market access, international trade issues management and strategic industry management advisory company which has been successfully operating for more than 13 years.

Nikki has expertise in market access negotiation and biosecurity regulations and policy and has been involved in the agriculture and horticulture sectors throughout her career both in the public and private sectors. Nikki has strengths in risk analysis, project management and strategic industry representation.

She succeed Mike Chapman, who stepped down to take on the role of CEO Horticulture NZ.