Alex Turnbull Appointed CEO of Yili Oceania Division
Former Fonterra executive Alex Turnbull has been appointed CEO to lead all five Yili Oceania Business Division companies in New Zealand.
Westland Milk's new chief financial officer comes to the co-op with a track record in change management.
Dorian Devers joined Westland last week from the Linde Group (formerly the BOC Group) where he was financial director Africa, UK and Ireland and group chief financial officer for subsidiary Afrox.
Westland says Devers helped Afrox save NZ$48m, contributing to a 50% rise in its share price in his first year.
Westland chief executive Toni Brendish says she is “very excited” about Devers’ potential at Westland.
Brendish, appointed chief last September, has worked to improve Westland’s efficiency and cut costs, improve the co-op’s financial reporting and strengthen its core nutritionals market.
She also has a focus on partnerships with key commercial customers in priority, China especially. This has included strengthening the depth and experience of her management team.
Devers is the third new senior manager she has appointed, joining a new general manager China (Gary Yu) and a new chief operations officer (Craig Betty).
“Westland’s drive to improve its financial performance, and seek constructive mutually beneficial financial, technical and innovative relationships with key customers will be well supported by Dorian’s experience,” Brendish says.
“He has a proven record in leading transformational change in large and complex organisations to deliver sustainable benefits.”
Devers is married to Stephanie, a New Zealander, and they have three daughters Charlotte, Isla and Matilda.
He will be based at Westland’s Rolleston office.
Federated Farmers' new vice president Sandra Faulkner says the issue of adverse events emergency management and infrastructure needs to be taken out of the three-year political cycle.
Building a strong team is one of the biggest drivers of a successful sheep and beef business, but it can also be one of the tougher parts to get right.
Blueberry growers are warning that fresh imports could pose a huge biosecurity risk for NZ’s horticulture sector.
As expected, the US has launched a safeguard investigation into lamb imports, a move that could impact New Zealand sheepmeat returns.
A milk glut around the world shows no sign of easing, putting downward pressure on farmgate milk prices for the next few months.
A pause on Waikato Regional Council's (WRC) plan change that sets new freshwater rules for farming could be announced in the coming weeks.
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