Chief executive Theo Spierings said the Fonterra management team was focused on delivering Fonterra’s strategy and reaching its ambition.
“This is the right step in our evolution. We’re keeping farmers at the heart of our co-op while focusing on delivering to our global customers and consumers.”
Spierings said the most significant leadership changes were the newly created global consumer and foodservice business unit led by Jacqueline Chow, Judith Swales’ appointment to chief operating officer velocity and innovation and Miles Hurrell heading up Farm Source, formerly co-operative affairs.
Under the leadership of Chow, global consumer and foodservice would include all consumer and foodservice business units in the co-op’s key markets.
“We have an ambition to have our consumer and foodservice brands at the number 1 and 2 positions in our eight key strategic markets. Lining up our markets and consumer and foodservice teams enhances our focus on delivering world leading consumer brands,” Spierings said.
Swales, as chief operating officer velocity and innovation, would manage the co-op’s transformation and disruption agenda, and all research, development and technology.
“With Judith heading up velocity and innovation we will get an end-to-end view of our efforts to drive efficiency across our business, bringing increased commercial focus to our research, development and technology, and taking a strategic view on developing game changing business models.”
“This is a strong, lean senior leadership team of internal talent, accountable for delivering value and achieving our ambition,” Spierings said.
Fonterra’s management team
The appointments are effective from Friday June 17. Additional to chief executive Theo Spierings, the six-strong Fonterra management team comprises:
- Chief financial officer Lukas Paravicini’s role and position remains unchanged.
- Miles Hurrell, previously group director of co-operative affairs, is now chief operating officer Farm Source.
- Jacqueline Chow, previously chief operating officer velocity, is now chief operating officer global consumer and foodservice. She will lead the global consumer and foodservice business unit into 2017 after which she plans to retire from executive life and return to Australia to pursue a portfolio of board directorships.
- Judith Swales, previously managing director Oceania, is now chief operating officer velocity and innovation. Fonterra Australia will continue to report through to Judith.
- Kelvin Wickham, previously managing director of global ingredients, whose role and position remains unchanged, is now chief operating officer NZMP.
- Robert Spurway, previously managing director global operations, is now chief operating officer global operations.
Spierings said, “Miles, Jacqueline and Judith are taking on different and expanded roles while Lukas’ role is unchanged. Robert and Kelvin have new titles that properly reflect the breadth and importance of their roles.”
Regarding Chow’s appointment as chief operating officer global consumer and foodservice, Spierings said “Jacqueline has been instrumental in driving our transformation agenda and has been clear about her intention to retire from executive life at some point in the future. Before she does, our co-op stands to benefit greatly from her wealth of consumer and business experience as she creates our world class consumer and foodservice business unit.”
Alex Turnbull will continue to head Fonterra’s Latin American business as part of the global consumer and foodservice business unit.
Today’s appointments follow leadership announcements made earlier in the month for managing director corporate affairs, Mike Cronin, and managing director people and culture, Joanne Fair. Both senior roles are internal appointments and report directly to Spierings.
Spierings also said president greater China and managing director Asia MEA, Johan Priem, would retire on July 31. He said Fonterra would acknowledge Johan’s invaluable service to the co-op in July and make announcements on leadership structures in the greater China and Asia MEA region around that time.
