Tuesday, 07 June 2016 09:55

No more double Dutch?

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Mike Cronin's appointment comes amid media speculation on the future of chief executive Theo Spierings (pictured). Mike Cronin's appointment comes amid media speculation on the future of chief executive Theo Spierings (pictured).

The appointment of Mike Cronin as Fonterra's managing director corporate affairs has been welcomed as "a good Kiwi voice" in the co-op's management team.

One dairy insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, says Cronin is "a very sound man" with legal background.

Cronin will lead a team responsible for enhancing and protecting Fonterra's brand and reputation – including governance and legal, health and safety, food safety and quality, brand, social responsibility and communications, and stakeholder affairs.

His appointment comes amid media speculation on the future of chief executive Theo Spierings. The co-op has denied reports Spierings is preparing to step down, to be replaced by Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon. 

The dairy insider says "communication faux pas" have been made on Spierings' watch, notably the move to curb PKE use on farm and how this was communicated to farmers.

Farmers are facing their third season of below average payout; and some are not happy with the way they have been treated by Fonterra.

Having executive management team members who don't speak English as their first language has also been a communication challenge to shareholders.

Announcing Cronin's appointment, Spierings says his connection with the business and its risk and reputation drivers, make him the natural choice for the role.

"Mike has extensive experience in corporate risk and reputation management, and providing trusted strategic counsel to the cooperative. He has in-depth understanding of New Zealand and the cooperative, and the internal and external dynamics of our business.

The co-op has also appointed Joanne Fair, currently Fonterra's regional director ingredients SE Asia, as managing director people and culture, effective July 1, 2016.

Spierings says Fair is ideally placed to lead the cooperative's people and culture team. She has a strong background and expertise in human resources and has held global and regional commercial leadership roles, having worked with Fonterra in NZ, Latin America, Europe and South East Asia.

Up she goes

The first GDT auction for the season saw a 3.4% rise in the price index. However, the flagship whole milk powder price dropped 1.7% to US2200/tonne.

Skim milk powder was a big winner, rising 12% to US$1867/tonne. Cheddar prices rose 7.8% to US$2669/t.

 

More like this

Chilled milk partnership

Last month marked one year since the launch of an innovative collaboration known as the PAUS Programme (Pay- As-You-Save), which has made it easier for Fonterra farmers to access next generation milk chilling technology.

Featured

New UHT plant construction starts

Construction is underway at Fonterra’s new UHT cream plant at Edendale, Southland following a groundbreaking ceremony recently.

National

Farm Source turns 10!

Hundreds of Fonterra farmers visited their local Farm Source store on November 29 to help celebrate the rural service trader's…

Climate-friendly cows closer

Dairy farmers are one step closer to breeding cow with lower methane emissions, offering an innovative way to reduce the…

Machinery & Products

A JAC for all trades

While the New Zealand ute market is dominated by three main players, “disruptors” are never too far away.

Pushing the boundaries

Can-Am is pushing the boundaries of performance with its Outlander line-up of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) with the launch of the…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Milking fish

OPINION: It could be cod on your cornflakes and sardines in your smoothie if food innovators in Indonesia have their…

Seaweed the hero?

OPINION: A new study, published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, adds to some existing evidence about…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter