Claridge has an extensive business and academic background.

Founder of Carrickmore, a dairy export company specialising in marketing infant formula, the company’s product range was launched in China and New Zealand in 2012. He helped established the New Zealand Infant Formula Exporters Association to maintain and protect the reputation of New Zealand infant formula. Members include: laboratories, can manufacturers, co-packers, ingredient suppliers and small and medium sized infant formula exporters. The Associations membership grew to 26 companies representing an export value of $60 million before being adversely affected by international dairy markets.

Prior to that, Claridge founded ID Digital Media, a full-service advertising agency specialising in marketing communications. He was also the Dean of Business Studies and Senior Lecturer in Management at the Christchurch College of Education.

Passionate about horticulture and adding value to New Zealand’s primary produce, he founded Claridges Organics, one of New Zealand’s first organic food exporting businesses. Claridge attended Lincoln University to study Horticulture before transferring to Canterbury to complete a Masters in Biotechnology.

He is a member of the Royal Society and the New Zealand Institute of Food Science & Technology.  

In his spare time Claridge is keen on mountain biking and running.

His priority over the next few months will be to get out and meet people throughout the potato industry, develop relationships with key stakeholders, as well as getting a better understanding of the wider industry.

The Board says it looks forward to working with Claridge and hopes industry members will take an opportunity to share their industry knowledge with him over the coming months.