Tuesday, 31 January 2017 14:01

Fonterra director Spaans to step down

Written by 
Michael Spaans. Michael Spaans.

Fonterra director Michael Spaans is stepping down from the Fonterra Board due to ill health.

Spaans who is also chairman of DairyNZ, leaves the board tomorrow.

Fonterra said that it has agreed with Spaans that, when he is given a clean bill of health, he should consider standing again for the Fonterra Board.

Co-op chairman John Wilson said that Michael Spaans’ tireless contribution to the New Zealand dairy industry has been significant both inside and outside the Fonterra boardroom.

“Michael, a dairy farmer, came up through the ranks, spending time on the New Zealand Dairy Group Shareholder Council and then the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council before building his governance experience outside the industry,” Wilson says.

“As a result, his insights and experience are invaluable, particularly on Fonterra’s Milk Price Panel, Audit and Finance Committee and the Co-operative Relations Committee.”

Former director Ian Farrelly, who retired last December after serving nine years on the board, will fill the casual vacancy created by Spaan’s departure.

Wilson said that the Fonterra Constitution allowed for an appointment to fill a casual vacancy and that Farrelly’s appointment to fill the casual vacancy would continue until the 2017 Annual Meeting.

“Ian is a highly qualified director with very recent and valued experience on the Board,” said Wilson. “We are very grateful that he has agreed to continue his contribution to Fonterra”.

More like this

Fonterra R&D: Innovation needs more than just PhDs

Common sense and good human judgement are still a key requirement for the super highly qualified staff working at one of New Zealand's largest and most important research facilities - Fonterra's R&D Centre at Palmerston North.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

Fliegl offers effluent solutions

Founded in Germany as recently as 1977, today, the Fliegl Group employs more than 1100 workers, offering an expansive range…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

It's all about economics

OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter