Tuesday, 19 April 2016 12:55

Feds in meltdown?

Written by  Peter Burke
Feds president William Rolleston (pictured) says it's not helpful to speculate. Feds president William Rolleston (pictured) says it's not helpful to speculate.

A number of senior Federated Farmers staff careers have recently ended abruptly.

In turn the organisation is starting to appear more like a blood-soaked episode of the television fantasy programme Game of Thrones than a farmer lobby.

It seems Feds management is in something of a meltdown mode with another two senior managers suddenly leaving the organisation last week. Communications manager Philip Clark and provincial engagement manager Jodie Campbell both left within days of each other amid speculation as to why.

This follows the sudden departure late last year of Fiona Thompson-Carter, the policy manager. All three were appointees of chief executive Graham Smith who took over the reins at the farmer lobby nearly two years ago. Smith's restructuring of the organisation also saw other staff made redundant.

Since Thompson-Carter departed no new policy manager has been appointed, causing upset amongst staff and farmer members, as Feds is still trying to work out how best to manage internal policy.

However, Feds president William Rolleston plays down the issue, telling Rural News it's not helpful to speculate.

"Ever since I have been in Feds there have been people happy and others unhappy. I guess when you have a big change of senior staff you don't always get it right first time," he says.

But other Feds sources tell Rural News they have real concerns about the restructuring and the resulting fall-out. It is now likely that Smith himself will be under pressure to explain why things have gone so wrong and the cost in dollar terms and staff morale.

Another issue creating tension is that Smith is not based full time in Wellington, preferring to work part of the time out of the Hamilton office. This has led to claims that Feds is 'leaderless' in Wellington.

For years Federated Farmers has seen a high turnover of senior staff and these latest departures are seen continuing that trend, reducing the organisation's 'institutional memory'.

Staff issues could be on the agenda at the Feds annual conference in Wellington in June. Mindful of the catch-cry in Game of Thrones – famous for killing off its key actors – one wonders if indeed 'winter is coming' for Feds.

More like this

Feds question local government’s role

Federated Farmers previous president, William Rolleston, was very supportive of GE and there was a perception that Feds was leading the charge in support of the science — but this could now cost them.

Science can help bridge rural/urban gap

Farming leader Dr William Rolleston is calling farmers to take charge of the scientific narrative going into the election with the urban-rural divide “as big as it has ever been”.

Semen unlikely source of disease

The Ministry for Primary Industries is still assessing the likely means of entry of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis, following its discovery on two dairy farms in the Morven area near Oamaru.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Overbearing?

OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…

Foot-in-mouth

OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter