increase font size
Leonie Guiney.
Fonterra director Leonie Guiney is crying foul after the board blocked her from the upcoming director election.
The Fairlie farmer, a staunch supporter of 100% farmer control and ownership, was not recommended as one of three candidates by the independent selection panel and a board nominations sub-committee.
And changes last year to Fonterra’s governance and representation prevent Guiney from nominating herself as a candidate for election.
Guiney told Rural News there seems to be confusion about options to self-nominate.
“I was available for re-election via the independent nomination process; the board’s view is that once you start in their process for endorsement, you can’t then go directly to shareholders even if you have been eliminated early in the independent nomination panel process.”
Guiney says she’s disappointed to miss out.
“I think I was a necessary antidote to ‘group think’ on that board; I was a constant reminder of who the cooperative owners are and the supply strength that could come from trusting them more. I believe some on the board found this uncomfortable.”
Fonterra refuse to comment on Guiney’s claims, saying it respects the integrity and confidential nature of the election process.
Guiney was voted in by Fonterra shareholders in 2014, replacing retiring Jim van der Poel.
Last October, Fonterra shareholders voted in new rules on the nomination and election of directors.
The independent selection panel -- Alison Paterson, chair; John Spencer, board nominee; and Tony Carter, shareholders council nominee – made recommendations to the board and council after interviewing candidates.
The panel this month nominated as its candidates the sitting director John Monaghan, agribusiness leader Andy Macfarlane and PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Brent Goldsack.
Three directors retired by rotation this year, and Taranaki Regional Council chairman David MacLeod decided to retire after serving six years.
The self-nomination process, whereby a farmer may stand as a candidate with the support of 35 shareholders, is now open; nominations close Thursday (September 21).
The full list of candidates will be announced on September 25.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
OPINION: Farmer shareholders of two of New Zealand's largest co-operatives have an important decision to make this month and what they decide could change the landscape of the dairy and meat sectors in New Zealand.
OPINION: As CEO of the Dairy Board in the 1980s I was fortunate to work with a team of experienced and capable executives who made most of the brand investments that created the international consumer business Fonterra inherited. Soprole in Chile was the largest, but there were more than 20 countries where consumer marketing companies were established and Anchor and other brands were successfully launched.
Fonterra has delivered a fifth straight year of record organic milk price for farmer suppliers.
Fonterra says favourable weather conditions supporting pasture growth is boosting milk production.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
