Rural supplies company RD1 has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer.

She is Sarah Kennedy who succeeds John Lea when he steps down at the end of November after seven years at the helm.

Originally trained as a veterinarian Ms Kennedy has held a number of senior executive positions in the agribusiness and food industries, including overseeing the merging of Healtheries and Nutralife.

Ms Kennedy says she is looking forward to her new role with RD1 which , she says, is the backbone of the dairy rural supplies sector in New Zealand.

She joins the company on October 3.