Key Lumber Company was officially re-named Verda New Zealand Limited 1 April 2008

Board of Directors

Grant Butterworth

Grant has 25 years experience in the timber industry in a range of roles covering operational sawmill and/or processing plant management as well as logistics and business optimisation. He also spent 5 years in a retail building supplies partnership. In March 2004 Grant joined Verda New Zealand Limited (Formerly Key Lumber Company) as Managing Director. Grant believes in the importance of understanding and meeting customer needs as well as focusing on supply chain management which has been fundamental to the success of Verda New Zealand Limited to date.

Jane Butterworth

Jane is the founder of Verda New Zealand Limited (formerly Key Lumber Company), developing the initial appearance grade market under the Key Lumber brand from mid 2003. She has a diploma in Business Studies from Massey University has 15yrs experience in the timber industry preceded by 5 years work in the UK in HR and Finance roles.

Steven Sperry

Steve joined Verda New Zealand Limited (formerly Key Lumber Company) with Jane in late 2003 and took a 25% shareholding in the business. His strength is the retail merchant business. Until recently he managed the procurement, logistical and sales functions for the group but with the continued growth is now focused on supply chain management and operational logistics functions.

Jo Pitkethley

Joanne joined the team in late 2004 in an accounting, administration and finance capacity. Although not formally qualified in finance she has a high level of competence derived from her background at Transrail, Fletcher Challenge Forests and Red Stag Timber. Her competency was noted by Deloitte in the BBD assessment process, and she is supported in the role by a strong relationship with BDO Spicers in Rotorua.

Judith Stanway

Judith is a CA and the national chairperson of BDO Spicers. She has twenty years experience as a Business Management partner in Rotorua and also has held a number of directorships, including Chairing Lakes District Health Board, Deputy Chair of Te Puia (NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute), and an advisory role with a number of clients.

Judith has a Master in Social Science (Economics) and is an Accredited Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Ralph Marshall

Ralph is a Senior Partner with Deloitte based in Auckland. Ralph's area of specialisation is in strategy, international trade, operational improvementand governance and brings that experience to the Verda Board. Ralph has a number of directorships with significant New Zealand based Private Companies and is a Past President of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Ralph as a Bachelor of Commerce from Otago university with Majors in Accounting and Marketingand is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and a member of the Institute of Directors.