Stephen Allen to Step Down as Tatua Chair After 23 Years
Tatua chair Stephen Allen says he leaves the co-op with a deep sense of gratitude for the people who have contributed to its success.
Allen joined the Tatua board in 1996 and was appointed deputy chair in 1997. He became chair in 2003, succeeding Sir Alan Frampton, and has held the position for more than two decades.
His time on the board spanned major shifts in the New Zealand dairy sector, including the lead-up to dairy sector deregulation.
During his tenure, Allen worked with three chief executives - Dr Michael Matthews, Paul McGilvary, and Brendhan Greaney - as the co-operative pursued a strategy centred on value-added innovation, disciplined investment and long-term growth.
In a statement, Allen says he is grateful to the people who contributed to the co-operative over the past three decades.
"It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve Tatua's supplier shareholders and to work alongside exceptional directors, management, staff, customers, and industry partners over the past 30 years," he says.
He says the clearest lesson from his time as chair is that long-term performance is driven by people.
"When people understand the purpose, feel trusted and are encouraged to contribute, exceptional performance becomes the natural outcome. Whatever Tatua has achieved has always been the result of talented people working together with a shared purpose."
The Tatua has named Mark Dewdney, a current director, as Allen's successor.
The company says he has a longstanding connection to the co-operative and brings governance, executive leadership, agribusiness and farming experience, including a number of chief executive and senior executive roles across agricultural and horticultural businesses, alongside his own farming interests.
Allen says he is confident in the incoming leadership.
"Leadership carries a responsibility not only to serve well, but to know when to pass the baton. Mark is an experienced Chair and director, and I am pleased to see Tatua's next generation of leadership take the co-operative forward," he says.
Allen also acknowledged Tatua's shareholders, staff, customers, industry colleagues, Iwi, government representatives, community partners and his family, saying the co-operative's success had been built on trust and strong relationships.
"Trust is earned, never assumed, and I will always be deeply grateful for the trust placed in me. Tatua was built by everyday good people, committed to tomorrow and co-operative to the core. It has been the greatest privilege of my life to have served alongside them."
Allen's retirement takes effect at Tatua's Annual General Meeting on 3 December 2026.
