Sales leadership change at Lion

Lion has announced a new National Sales Director for New Zealand with Jono Willis to succeed Warwick Hooper from the beginning of next year.

Hooper is leaving the business after a 16-year career with Lion, which started in 2010 at Lion Dairy & Drinks. He has held several senior sales leadership roles across the business including Field Sales Manager and National Accounts Director, before being appointed National Sales Director for New Zealand in 2022.

Lion’s Chief Operating Officer and NZ Country Director Craig Baldie thanked Hooper for his commitment to LION, its people and customers over his 16 years with the company.

Jono Willis will be the new National Sales Director NZ for Lion.

Lion says that Jono Willis brings broad commercial and leadership experience to the National Sales Director role, having built a diverse career across the company’s legal, general management and sales functions.

Willis joined Lion in 2012 as Legal Counsel in New Zealand before moving to Australia, where his role spanned a range of commercial legal matters across the business. He subsequently returned to New Zealand in 2018 and became General Counsel for Lion New Zealand and Little World Beverages. He later combined his legal leadership responsibilities with general management of Lion’s Coffee business before moving into Sales as National Accounts Director and, most recently, Field Sales Director.

Jono Willis will start in his new role from 1 January 2027, while Warwick Hooper will continue with Lion into early 2027 to support the leadership transition.