Wednesday, 01 April 2026 12:55

Blunt CEO

Written by Milking It

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: Synlait's woes show no sign of ending anytime soon.

Milking It wonders hpw long its Chinese majority owner, Bright Dairy, will tolerate the losses.

The sale of Synlait's North Island assets this month will bring some relief.

Also, Synlait has seasoned industry stalwart Richard Wyeth as its new chief executive.

Wyeth was blunt in his assessment. He's bringing the focus back into the core areas of the business and adds that over the last 12 to 18 months, the business has been incredible reactionary, with very little commercial fixability or optionality. Ouch!

More like this

Synlait CEO Resignation Highlights Deeper Challenges Facing Dairy Processor

A revolving door of chief executives at milk processor Synlait is a warning sign, says Lincon University senior lecturer in agribusiness Nic Lees.

Synlait Loses Third CEO in Five Years as Richard Wyeth Resigns

Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.

Two Major NZ Dairy Deals Completed

Two major acquisitions in the New Zealand dairy sector were completed this week.

Synlait is 'Burning Cash, Not Creating Value'

OPINION: Synlait's latest half-year result reveals a serious problem at the heart of the business: its core operations are no longer bringing in enough revenue to cover the cost of production.

Synlait, Nestlé Expand Eco-Focused Dairy Partnership in NZ

A partnership between Canterbury milk processor Synlait and the world's largest food producer, Nestlé, has been celebrated with a visit to a North Canterbury farm by a group including senior staff from Synlait, the Ravensdown subsidiary EcoPond, and Nestlé's Switzerland head office.

Featured

Historic Claas Senator Combine Returns to Work in Suffolk

Fifty Eight years ago, on the 16th of August 1968, August Claas, the founder of the harvesting company and father of Helmut Claas, personally presented a Claas Senator combine harvester to Scottish farmer John Steven.

NZ Beef Mince Now Over $24/kg as Export Demand Stays Strong

New Zealand consumers are paying more for beef mince than ever before, with the average retail price now sitting above $24 per kilogram, according to Rabobank.

State farmer posts record results

State farmer Pamu has delivered its strongest operating result on record.

Fall Armyworm in NZ Maize: Four Years of Research

Four years since it was first detected in New Zealand, researchers and growers now know much more about management of maize pest fall armyworm (FAW).

Federated Farmers Welcomes Pause on Waikato PC1 Rules

The Government has announced it will pause key parts of Waikato Plan Change 1 (PC1) in a decision that is set to give Waikato farmers a reprieve from new consenting and farm-planning requirements while the wider resource management system is overhauled.

Editorial: Time to Boost Organics

OPINION: The time has come for the Government to back the organic sector.

National

Ballance Urges Farmers to Plan Ahead for El Niño

With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging…