Westland chairman Matt O’Regan said Brendish had extensive leadership experience in the international food and dairy industries, most recently as vice president of DKSH (Thailand), a large consumer goods distribution business based in Bangkok, where she currently lives.
“Toni’s familiarity with the manufacture, supply chain and sales and marketing of value-added dairy products, including paediatric and nutritional powders and UHT dairy products, will be of immense value to the company as we progress the development and execution of our growth strategy for these businesses,” O’Regan said.
Brendish, an Australian, has spent a large part of her career within the Danone group as managing director of Nutricia Australia and New Zealand; managing director of Danone Dumex (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd; and managing director of the Danone dairy business in Indonesia.
She starts with Westland Milk Products on September 5, replacing chief executive Rod Quin who steps down from the role on July 31 after seven years with the company.
O’Regan said Brendish would live in Christchurch along with her husband, Mark, a New Zealander.
“Toni is committed to spending a good proportion of her time on the West Coast to get to know our region, shareholders, staff and facilities well. But we also expect that she will be spending a fair amount of her time overseas directly leading Westland’s international marketing outreach,” O’Regan said.
