Ousted Guinness Peat Group boss Tony Gibbs will stay in his role as chairman of produce marketer Turners & Growers.

Mr Gibbs was sacked from the GPG board after he publicly opposed plans to split Australian arm into a separate business.

But despite the dismissal, both Mr Gibbs and the Turners & Growers board are happy to keep the relationship intact.

"It’s a company I’m very, very proud of. I’m proud to be able to stay as chairman, I’ve got the support of the board and management, and we intend to keep going on all our endeavours, including kiwifruit."

Guinness Peat Group is the majority shareholder in Turners & Growers’.