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Federated Farmers says John Wilson is the right man to lead Fonterra.
"John may be stepping into big shoes but he is ably equipped to do so," says Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Willy Leferink. Wilson was today appointed chairman elect and takes over from Henry van der Heyden in December.
"John is an immensely intelligent and capable farmer with that all-important institutional knowledge of where Fonterra has come from. Since he has been on the board, Fonterra has gone from generating $11.8 billion in revenue to around $20 billion today."
Being the chairman of Fonterra puts you in the spotlight locally and internationally, says Leferink.
"Federated Farmers strongly hopes John will put in place a clear succession pathway by creating a deputy chair. A lack of board succession is a strategic weakness given Fonterra is a team made up of farmers, staff, customers and suppliers.
"John will be in charge of taking the world's fourth largest dairy company forward in its second decade of life. This includes delivering to shareholders and unit holders, everything promised from Trading Among Farmers (TAF) and the strategy refresh.
"The immediate priority for John, during the transition phase, is to put to bed Fonterra's constitution in November so we can all move forward."
Leferink says Feds executives look forward to meeting Wilson soon.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to highlight the most troublesome farm pests – a serious issue that needs some urgent attention from the Beehive.
Fonterra shareholders say they will be keeping an eye on their co-operative's performance after the sale of its consumer businesses.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.
