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Fonterra chairman John Wilson welcomes new director Leonie Guiney.
SOUTH CANTERBURY dairy farmer Leonie Guiney received a phone call last Monday afternoon confirming her election to Fonterra’s board.
Congratulations started flowing in next day when Guiney and her husband Kieran hosted 230 farmers at a field day on their home farm in Fairlie for finishing second in a dairy business competition.
Guiney says most farmers in the region quickly learned of her win. “The bush telegraphs works pretty well in the dairy industry so it was on fire,” she told Rural News. “I am humbled and stoked by the win.”
Guiney, an outspoken Fonterra shareholder, finished a strong second in the election of three directors. Rural News understands sitting director John Monaghan got the most votes, followed closely by Guiney.
Taranaki farmer and sitting director David McLeod finished third, ahead of unsuccessful candidates Gray Baldwin, Grant Rowan and Garry Reymer.
Guiney and husband Kieran milk 3000 cows and supply 1 million kgMS to Fonterra. She is a champion of the co-op model, having taken Fonterra’s board and management to task over TAF and other financial issues.
Guiney says she spoke out on issues because she is passionate about the future of the co-op. “And I have seen that as a strength…. I’m sure a strong board will have robust discussion and debate on the industry and future of the co-op. I struggle to see how that can be seen as a problem in a strong and effective board.”
But Guiney says she has no intention of “revisiting the concerns of the past”. “However, I will always be asking good questions in the interest of farmers.”
Addressing the Fonterra annual meeting in Palmerston North last week, she called the co-op to improve two-way engagement with shareholders.
Despite having issues with Fonterra’s management, farmer shareholders were committed to the co-op, she says. “They are committed as long as they get a hearing.”
Guiney remarks on farmers leaving the co-op in parts of the South Island to supply other processors.
She insists the co-op has a responsibility to reward loyal farmers “with a milk price and an opportunity to improve engagement. Committed farmers are our future and we must never forget that.”
Guiney will attend her first Fonterra board meeting early next month.
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