After announcing plans to divest its global consumer business, dairy co-op Fonterra has made three management changes.
Fonterra president Atlantic, Richard Allen, has been appointed to president Global Markets Ingredients.
Fonterra managing director Oceania, René Dedoncker, will become MD Global Markets Consumer and Foodservice.
And MD Strategy & Optimisation, Emma Parsons, has been appointed CEO for Kotahi Logistics LP, a joint venture between Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms.
CEO Miles Hurrell said Allen and Dedoncker were experienced leaders who knew the business well.
“Richard Allen has been with Fonterra since 2008 and has held a number of significant roles across the business, including leading our Foodservice business in Greater China and our Farm Source business here in New Zealand.
“In his current role as president Atlantic, Richard is responsible for Fonterra’s operations across the Americas and Europe as well as our top global Ingredients accounts. He has a sharp commercial mind and I look forward to seeing how he deepens our strategic customer relationships and drives further value through our Global Markets Ingredients business,” Hurrell said.
Dedoncker has been with the co-op since 2005 and has held several global leadership positions. He has led the Australian business since 2017, including through its recent merger with Fonterra Brands New Zealand to form Fonterra Oceania.
“In this new role, René will provide leadership to our Global Markets Consumer business during the potential divestment process, with a focus on continuing to drive performance. René will also lead development and delivery of the strategic growth plans for our Foodservice business outside of Greater China,” Hurrell said.
The appointments will be effective from 1 August and will replace Global Markets CEO Judith Swales.
Kotahi is New Zealand’s largest containerised freight manager.
Hurrell said Parsons’ long career with the co-op had spanned many different parts of the business.
“Emma’s broad experience has seen her develop Fonterra’s export relationships and supply chain integration across Latin America, lead the design of our new capital structure, and more recently lead the implementation of our strategy.
“Joining Kotahi as CEO is a very exciting opportunity for Emma, and I am pleased that we will continue to work closely together to take farmers’ milk to the world.
“I’d also like to acknowledge David Ross who has completed almost nine years as CEO of Kotahi. I thank him for his leadership of a critical partner of ours, particularly through COVID-19 and the subsequent global supply chain challenges,” Hurrell said.
She will start with Kotahi on 1 October.
