Top dairy CEO quits
Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products (WMP)
The West Coast dairy company is New Zealand's second biggest dairy co-operative.
"Rod has decided that after seven years in the role it is an appropriate time for him to seek a new challenge and for the co-operative to appoint a new leader," Westland chairman Matt O'Regan says,
O'Regan says Quin has played a critical leading role in developing and implementing Westland's strategy to move into more profitable added-value products – such as infant formula and UHT milk – and so reduce the co-operative's reliance on the highly volatile bulk dairy commodities market.
He says the search for a new CEO would begin immediately and Quin has been asked to remain in the role until his replacement has been found.
"This is genuinely my decision," Quin says. "It's simply time to go and let someone else bring their energy and style to the business."
Quin has lead Westland since April 2009.
