June 20, 2016

 

New appointments for Fonterra's senior leadership

 

 

 

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited announced its senior leadership team and business unit structure that will enable the Co-operative to continue to deliver maximum value creation and strong performance.

 

Chief executive Theo Spierings said the Fonterra Management Team is focused on delivering Fonterra's strategy and reaching its ambition.

 

"This is the right step in our evolution. We're keeping farmers at the heart of our Co-op while focusing on delivering to our global customers and consumers," Spierings said. He added that the most significant leadership changes were the newly created Global Consumer and Foodservice business unit led by Jacqueline Chow, Judith Swales' appointment to Chief Operating Officer (Velocity and Innovation), and Miles Hurrell heading up Farm Source (formerly Co-operative Affairs).

 

Under the leadership of Chow, Global Consumer and Foodservice will include all consumer and foodservice business units in the Co-operative's key markets. "We have an ambition to have our consumer and foodservice brands at the number one and two positions in our eight key strategic markets. Lining up our markets and consumer and foodservice teams enhances our focus on delivering world-leading consumer brands," said Spierings.

 

Swales, as COO of Velocity and Innovation, will manage the Co-operative's transformation and disruption agenda, as well as all research, development and technology. "With Judith heading up Velocity and Innovation, we will get an end-to-end view of our efforts to drive efficiency across our business, bringing increased commercial focus to our research, development and technology, and taking a strategic view on developing game changing business models," Spierings commented. "This is a strong, lean senior leadership team of internal talent, accountable for delivering value and achieving our ambition."

 

The appointments are effective from June 17. Along with Spierings, the six-strong Fonterra Management Team comprises of: chief financial officer Lukas Paravicini whose role and position remains unchanged; Miles Hurrell, previously group director of Co-operative Affairs, now chief operating officer (Farm Source); Jacqueline Chow, previously chief operating officer (Velocity), now chief operating officer of the Global Consumer and Foodservice business unit which she will lead until 2017; Judith Swales, previously managing director (Oceania), now chief operating officer (Velocity and Innovation) and to whom Fonterra Australia will continue to report to; Kelvin Wickham, previously managing director of Global Ingredients, now chief operating officer (NZMP); and Robert Spurway, previously managing director of Global Operations, now chief operating officer of Global Operations.

 

"Miles, Jacqueline and Judith are taking on different and expanded roles while Lukas' role is unchanged. Robert and Kelvin have new titles that properly reflect the breadth and importance of their roles," Spierings said.

 

Regarding Chow's appointment as COO of Global Consumer and Foodservice, Spierings commented: "Jacqueline has been instrumental in driving our transformation agenda and has been clear about her intention to retire from executive life at some point in the future. Before she does, our Co-op stands to benefit greatly from her wealth of consumer and business experience as she creates our world-class consumer and foodservice business unit."

 

Alex Turnbull will continue to head Fonterra's Latin American business as part of the Global Consumer and Foodservice business unit.

 

The recent appointments follow leadership announcements made earlier in the month for managing director of Corporate Affairs (Mike Cronin) and managing director for People and Culture (Joanne Fair). Both senior roles are internal appointments and report directly to Spierings.

 

Johan Priem, president for Greater China and managing director for Asia / MEA, will retire on July 31, according to Spierings.