Tuesday, 02 December 2014 10:28

Co-op gets new international farming head

Written by 

FONTERRA HAS welcomed Alan van der Nagel as their new managing director of international farming.

 Chief executive Theo Spierings says van der Nagel has considerable experience in internationally integrated dairy companies in emerging markets, working with multi-cultural teams, and managing large-scale international joint ventures.

“Alan has held senior executive roles with Parmalat in China, and more recently with Almarai Company in Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest fully integrated branded dairy operation which has a farming operation with 145,000 cows,” says Spierings.

Van der Nagel started his dairy career in New Zealand, before taking up his first senior operational role within the Parmalat Group in Australia in 1989.  He remained with Parmalat for 14 years, with several years spent in China where he was the country manager/managing director from 2001 – 2003. 

In 2004, van der Nagel moved to Saudi Arabia to work for Almarai Company, where he has been group general manager for operations since 2008.

According to Spierings, van der Nagel’s role will be vital in providing a high quality, safe and traceable supply of milk as part of Fonterra’s integrated supply chain in key markets. A key strategic focus in the short to medium-term is China.

Spierings also thanked Henk Bles whom Van der Nagel replaces. Bles has served as interim managing director since April and will remain in an advisory role for up to six months, to ensure a smooth transition.

More like this

Fonterra's in good shape

Fonterra released its interim results last month, showing a continuation of the strong earnings performance delivered by the co-op through the 2023 financial year. Here’s what Fonterra chair Peter McBride and chief executive Miles Hurrell said about the results…

China trade

OPINION: Last week's revelation that data relating to New Zealand MPs was stolen amid Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage targeting two arms of the country’s Parliament could test the long-standing trade relations between the two countries.

Featured

Vaccinate against new lepto strain

A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.

Funding boost for red meat

Two major red meat sector projects are getting up to a combined $1.7 million in funding from the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).

Otago's supreme winner

Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.

Editorial: Wake up Wellington

OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.

TV series to combat food waste

Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.

National

Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut…

Machinery & Products

New name, new ideas

KGM New Zealand, is part of the London headquartered Inchcape Group, who increased its NZ presence in August 2023 with…

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Plant-based bubble bursts

OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter