Fonterra unveils divestment plan
Fonterra is exploring full or partial divestment options for its global Consumer business, as well as its integrated businesses Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka.
Fonterra chairman Peter McBride claims an uncontested director election this year reflects the calibre of the two board members up for re-election.
Sitting Fonterra board members Brent Goldsack and Cathy Quinn are unopposed.
However, as this is an uncontested election, under Fonterra’s board election rules, both sitting directors must gain more than 50% support of votes cast to serve another three-year term.
When nominations for the non-assessment process closed last month, Goldsack and Quinn were the only two candidates. This is the first time in the co-op’s history that director elections have not been contested.
McBride told Rural News that while shareholders believe their co-op is well governed, it also reflects the skill sets of Goldsack and Quinn.
“No one else came through the nomination process; that shows the co-op is well governed and the calibre of the incumbents,” he says.
Fonterra Co-operative Council chair John Stevenson is also unopposed for another three-year term on the council.
Meanwhile, former Fonterra Co-operative Council chair Simon Couper is making a comeback to a governance role within the co-operative, 11 years after resigning as chair. Couper stepped down as council chair in 2012, unhappy with some aspects of the proposed Trading Among Farmers (TAF), which was later approved by farmer shareholders.
Voting Packs containing candidate profiles will be mailed to eligible shareholders from Monday. Shareholders can vote online or by post from Tuesday, October 17. Voting closes at 10.30am on Tuesday, 7 November 2023 with the results being announced later that day.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.