Foodstuffs South Island CEO Mary Devine to step down

Foodstuffs South Island (FSSI) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Mary Devine will step down from her role at the end of 2026.

FSSI Chair Marcel Gray said Devine had decided it is the right time to leave the co-operative.

“Mary has led significant transformation over the past five years, drawing on her deep retail and business expertise to reset the strategic direction of the co-operative while navigating a new regulatory environment,” he said.

“With Mary as CEO we have delivered fundamental changes to our core technology and operating model, developed and executed a new strategic direction, and responded to increased regulation and scrutiny with confidence and integrity.

“Mary’s impact on the culture of our organisation over that time can’t be understated. Her people-first leadership has brought positive change to many of our ways of working, with a relentless focus on excellence.

“On behalf of the Board I want to thank Mary for her dedication and significant contribution to Foodstuffs South Island over what has been an exceptionally dynamic and complex period.”

Devine said it had been a great privilege to be part of the Foodstuffs South Island co-operative, both as CEO and previously as an Independent Director on the Board.

“The ethos of the co-operative has always resonated with me. At its heart Foodstuffs South Island is about people with a deep and enduring commitment to feeding the South Island and serving South Island communities.

“By the end of this year I will have been in the CEO role for five years, and I am incredibly proud of what our team and store owner operators have achieved together. It feels right to step down at this point in our strategic journey and enable new leadership to continue driving the co-operative forward.”

Gray said Devine’s notice period will support a seamless leadership transition. The Board will run the selection and appointment process over the coming months.