Unrest at Westland Dairy Cooperative

Fed Farmers Dairy is to meet with Westland directors to discuss concerns it has with the cooperative reports Rural Press. "˜Westland has a strong shareholder following and it needs to maintain that,' says Feds local dairy chairman Richard Reynolds. "˜We want to be a united co-op rather than a co-op you have to belong to because it is the only option.' While the company has many strengths "“ plant, workforce, flexibility "“ Reynolds says there are concerns about leadership, especially in light of company stalwart Hugh Little's imminent retirement. "˜He's been the man to step up and fill the gap whenever it's been needed, and he's done it knowledgably and successfully. He never wanted to be chief executive but he's always been able to do it when needed.' The board were too slow to replace Scott Eglinton , who died in July 2008, and even following Rod Quin's appointment in January, senior management is still somewhat light, believes Reynolds. "˜That's a weakness if the CEO goes missing. There's a difference between holding the company together and running the company.' Everytime the CEO changes, as it has done four times in as many years if Little's caretaker terms are included, the company's goals seem to change. A stronger board and stronger direction is needed. "˜I don't believe any of the shareholders could tell you what the direction of the company is and I don't believe management could either.' Reynolds, a former Dexcel consulting officer who now milks 380 cows on 150ha at Barrytown, north of Greymouth, questions some directors' abilities and believes Westland's electoral wards should be abolished, increasing competition for seats. Some form of shareholders council to provide feedback to ad#agridata-468x60]