Barry O'Neil will take up the role of general manager at Kiwifruit Vine Health on Thursday.
Dr O'Neil headed the Ministry of Agriculture biosecurity division.
He led MAF's emergency response to the rabbit calicivirus disease in 1997 and the Waikehe Island foot and mouth disease hoax in 2005.
He was also involved with the initial MAF reponse to PSA.
KVH current general manager John Burke was on appointed a one-year contract after PSA was first discovered on a Te Puke orchard in November 2010.
