New CEO for Fonterra

Fonterra Co-operative, a dairy nutrition company, has announced the appointment of Theo Spierings as its new CEO.

Spierings, who led the Dutch farmer dairy cooperative Royal Friesland Foods, into a merger with Campina in 2008, will take over from Fonterra’s departing CEO Andrew Ferrier, effective 26 September. Ferrier announced his resignation from Fonterra last March.

Fonterra’s Chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said Spierings would bring to Fonterra 25 years of knowledge of the global dairy industry.

“Mr Spierings has a wealth of experience in managing dairy businesses across Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Europe,” Sir Henry said.

“Most importantly, Mr Spierings has an in-built respect for the cooperative structure and for farmers and their commitment to cooperative principles. He is well recognised by his peers for his people leadership, delivery of results and strong strategic skills.”

Spierings was acting CEO of Royal Friesland Foods when he presided over all aspects of its complex and highly sensitive merger with Campina. He left the company shortly after completing the merger as, prior to the transaction, both parties had already agreed on an independent CEO to take the new entity forward.

Sir Henry said as well as a 25-year history in the global dairy industry, Spierings had held a variety of general management, operations and supply chain, and sales and marketing positions across a number of geographies.

Spierings said the role of CEO for Fonterra was a great opportunity, working in the industry he loved.

“I am honoured to be invited to lead Fonterra into its second decade,” Spierings said.

“The Fonterra Board, Andrew Ferrier and his team have established a strong foundation and my challenge is to build an even more successful global dairy co-operative.”

Spierings said he was familiar with both Fonterra and its key people and had great respect for the foresight New Zealand farmers had shown in creating Fonterra in the first place.

Aged 46, Spierings holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Food Technology/Biotechnology and a Masters in Business Administration. He owns and runs his own company which focuses on corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions in fast-moving consumer goods.

With the cooperative heading into a new production season, Sir Henry said that in the meantime it was back to business as usual.

“In September all members of the cooperative and all staff will want to say a big thank you to Andrew Ferrier for the great job he has done during the past eight years. After that we will reach out to welcome Theo Spierings.”