Fonterra elects new chairman

John Wilson to take over as new Fonterra chairman when incumbent Sir Henry van der Heyden stands down

Rural News

John Wilson to take over as new Fonterra chairman when incumbent Sir Henry van der Heyden stands down

26th Jul 12, 11:41am by Amanda Morrall

Waikato's John Wilson has been named chairman elect for dairy cooperative Fonterra replacing outgoing head Sir Henry van der Heyden.

The appointment was announced Thursday following a board vote on the executive management.

Wilson, a previous Chairman of the Co-operatives Shareholder's Council will take over duties in December when van der Heyden stands down.

In announcing the appointment, van der Heyden said Wilson would be an asset to the co-operative given his "lengthy experience in the dairy industry.''

“Over the past two years the Board has been working through a considered and disciplined process to appoint a Chairman Elect and ensure the succession plan we have is in the best interest of the Co-operative,” says Sir Henry.

“John and I will work together over the next few months to assist with a smooth transition to provide continuity for the Co-operative.”

Wilson, a board member since 2003., lives on his family dairy farm near Te Awamutu and also manages a dairy farming business in South Canterbury.

He is the Chairman of South Auckland Independent Testing Society Ltd and a director of Turner & Growers Ltd.

In separate elections, Ian Brown was voted Chairman of the Shareholders’ Council and Philip Palmer as the Deputy Chair of Council.

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11 Comments

by Casual Observer | 26th Jul 12, 12:15pm 1343261751

It has been said he is 'Henry's man'. SO if Henry doesn't stand down from the Board who really will be running Fonterra? Shades of Putin come to mind.

by ITYS | 26th Jul 12, 1:45pm 1343267154

This is the longest bow I have ever seen drawn in a statement on this site. Points for the person who can establish a new low (the above comment being the incumbent.)

by ngakonui gold | 26th Jul 12, 4:22pm 1343276555

manages in sth canterbury, director of this and chairman of that does he actually milk cows or what?

by Omnologo | 26th Jul 12, 8:06pm 1343289998

One more step towards demutualisation, and another kick in the guts for the cooperative dairy industry. Has anyone ever read Wilsons Nuffield Scholarship report? http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9909/S00152/nuffield-farming-scholarships-awarded.htm. I can't find it on the Nuffield website. I don't know about you ITYS, but it seems consistently orhestrated to me. Any allusions to honoring cooperative legacy and principles given by Henry and lackies is pure bs. Demutualisation has been the agenda since before Fonterra was formed. Good on ya Henry and John, take everything for yourselves, make sure you don't leave any crumbs for future generations.

by Henry_Tull | 26th Jul 12, 9:09pm 1343293777

its not there:

http://www.nuffield.org.nz/page7.html

http://www.nuffield.org.nz/page11.html

may be its somewhere else...

John Wilson will study alternative farmer co-operative structures and their approaches to performance measurement. He seeks answers to the questions of "how the shareholders of a single NZ mega co-operative measure its performance without a true market price for milk?" and "how do these 'new generation' co-operatives guarantee to shareholders the required transparency and accountability in their financial performance?"

Lets hope he found the value driver tree, instead of wacking at it like Henry seemd to....

don't start us on "accountability"...

by Omnologo | 26th Jul 12, 9:47pm 1343296070

Do you know what is a 'new generation cooperative' Henry_Tull? It's interesting that the only cooperative expert Henry and co got to rubber stamp TAF was Michael Cooke who was a proponent of the term 'new generation cooperative http://web.missouri.edu/~cookml/publicat.htm. It may or may not be a legitimate solution to actual or percieved problems with cooperative evolution, but I wonder how many Fonterra shareholders understand the significance. Pity we didn't have a debate on it. I suspect it's more about people in the know pushing there own barrows more than ensuring the continuance of a robust and integral cooperative structure for the benefit of future farming generations.

by Henry_Tull | 28th Jul 12, 11:50am 1343433059

We think a "new generation cooperative" is not a cooperative, it is just something else.

The NGC is more a cooperative with sheets bolted on, or sliced through what we had.

Some things don't need/can't take evolution. For example double entry book keeping, loan finance, where innovation/evolution has been confused with say criminal activity. Somethings can only innovate to 100%.

Agreed but rather than barrows, think strips being torn off, or boots being filled..

by ITYS | 30th Jul 12, 4:02pm 1343620936

And I thought CO's comment could not be bettered. How wrong I was.

As a shareholder, how could it be that Henry and John take 'everything for themselves' but leave you as a (presumed) shareholder with nothing?

Demutualisation is not on the agenda - it was proposed in 2009 for the one and only time and promptly sent back. TAF is nothing to do with demutualisation.

Perhaps it is time to sell up, supply Synlait and let all your troubles go away...

by Omnologo | 30th Jul 12, 7:54pm 1343634881

Wasn't talking about me ITYS, I was talking about Fonterra remaining a cooperative, and about future generations. You think that by introducing trading dimensions into the so called cooperative, Henry and John are looking after the coooperative for the benefit of future generations, like those before did for them. Well mate I think that is rubbish, they're fleecing the cooperative for what they can get.

What are your thoughts on votes as a proportion of share backed production ITYS? What I'm talking about is a large scale suppliers 134 votes to the equvalent 1 vote of an 'average' shareholder (No. of shares/shareholders).

Is this consistent with cooperative principles. Maybe you're right, I better sell up before Fonterra morphs into Synlait.

Keep up the good work ITYS, the only worthy contributer to interest.co

by Belle | 26th Jul 12, 8:24pm 1343291048

As you go through life you deal with all sorts. Some business deals you remember more than others. For good and bad reasons. John Wilson, yes I remember him vividly. His father was a good bugger. Not so much the lad. I do hope as he has aged he got more like his dad.

by pikowai | 27th Jul 12, 8:58am 1343336303

Belle I doubt it - he'll have a hill to climb to unite Fonterra. Omnologo, perhaps his Nuffield paper turned into TAF...he was in charge of that I believe.