Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) chair Robert Marguccio will step down as chair and from the board of directors at the conclusion of the association's Annual General Meeting in October, bringing to a close two decades of service to the industry body.
Marguccio joined the APPMA board in September 2006 and has served as chairman for the past two years. He told members the decision followed a substantial increase in his responsibilities at Heat and Control, making it impossible to dedicate the time the role deserves.
"This has not been an easy decision," Marguccio said.
"My responsibilities at Heat and Control have grown substantially, and I have reached a point where I can no longer commit the time and energy that a board directorship, and particularly the chairmanship demands.
"I have always believed that members deserve directors who are fully present and able to contribute meaningfully. To continue in a role where I could not meet that standard would, in my view, be a disservice to you and to the association."
During his time on the board, Marguccio played a key role in broadening the association's scope beyond packaging, helping drive the transition from the Australian Packaging Machinery Association (APMA) to the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA).
"When I first joined, the association was known as the APMA, and our focus was predominantly on packaging. One of the achievements I am most proud of was helping to drive the decision to change our name to APPMA, a move that better reflected our industry's breadth and signalled our intent to represent processing as well as packaging."
Marguccio also cited the evolution of the association's flagship trade exhibition as a career highlight. Having chaired the AUSPACK subcommittee through a period of change, he said the long-held vision of creating a single event representing the full processing and packaging supply chain had now been realised through APPEX.
Beyond those milestones, he said he had worked to strengthen APPMA's relationships with organisations including DIAA, the Pet Food Association and Hort Connections, while also drawing on international networks to bring new ideas to the association. He also pointed to the introduction of associate memberships as part of a broader effort to make membership more inclusive.
Marguccio thanked fellow directors, APPMA's CEO and management team, and the association's members for their support throughout his tenure.
"Serving on the APPMA Board has been one of the great honours of my professional life," he said.
Although stepping down from the board, Marguccio said he would continue supporting the association and the industry.
"My commitment to this industry and to APPMA remains unchanged. I will continue to support the association in any way I can, and I look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength in the years ahead.
"I have every confidence in the Board and the leadership that will steer APPMA forward, and I will be watching with great interest."
A new chair is expected to be elected following APPMA's Annual General Meeting in October.
Ed's note: As APPMA board member and latterly chair, and head of packaging at Heat and Control ANZ, Robert has always been open to an interview and willing to share his technical expertise, whether on the exhibition floor at AUSPACK, APPEX, Interpack or behind the scenes. He has also been a thoughtful advocate for both the industry and informed industry journalism. On behalf of the PKN team, I thank Robert for his contribution to both APPMA and the wider processing and packaging industry, and wish him every success for the future.
