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 & Silver Fern Farms Launch Beef-on-Dairy Programme

As dairy farmers lock in plans for the upcoming mating season, a partnership between Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms has been formed with the aim of making it simpler to create additional value from calves not entering the replacement herd.

Fonterra's Whareroa Wins Directors Award

Fonterra's Whareroa site took home the prestigious Directors Award at the co-op's 'Oscars of Manufacturing', while Clandeboye led the way with multiple wins at this year's Best Site Cup.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Common sense

OPINION: City and regional councils have been put on notice - stop using extreme climate forecasting scenarios that can drive…

Going Green

OPINION: The Green Party’s rivers and oceans policy may have a new name but nothing else has changed.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter