Monday, 28 January 2019 19:56

Former Fonterra chair John Wilson has passed away

Written by 

Former Fonterra chairman John Wilson passed away this morning after a hard-fought battle with illness, the co-op announced.

In July last year, Wilson stepped down as chairman; he retired at the co-op’s annual meeting in November.

In a note to Fonterra farmers today, Fonterra chairman John Monaghan said Wilson was a man whose dedication and commitment to the cooperative ran deep.

“We owe John and his family a debt of gratitude for all the time, energy and sheer hard graft he gave us as a farmer-owner, inaugural chairman of the Fonterra Shareholder’s Council on merger, as a farmer elected director from 2003, and as our chairman from 2012.

“John always brought dedication, commitment, and deep dairy knowledge to each of the representation and governance roles in which he served. On behalf of his fellow farmers he was the ultimate advocate for what we stand for.

“We have lost a friend, colleague, leader and champion for our industry much too soon. Our thoughts and deep gratitude for all that he contributed go to his family and friends,” said Monaghan.

Wilson is survived by his wife Belinda and four daughters, Sophie, Victoria and twins Tessa and Libby.

 

 

More like this

Fonterra's in good shape

Fonterra released its interim results last month, showing a continuation of the strong earnings performance delivered by the co-op through the 2023 financial year. Here’s what Fonterra chair Peter McBride and chief executive Miles Hurrell said about the results…

China trade

OPINION: Last week's revelation that data relating to New Zealand MPs was stolen amid Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage targeting two arms of the country’s Parliament could test the long-standing trade relations between the two countries.

Featured

National

Green but not much grass!

Dairy farmers in the lower North Island are working on protecting next season, according to Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard…

Council lifeline for A&P Show

Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (CAPA) have signed an agreement which will open more of…

Struggling? Give us a call

ASB head of rural banking Aidan Gent is encouraging farmers to speak to their banks when they are struggling.

Machinery & Products

Tractor, harvester IT comes of age

Over the last halfdecade, digital technology has appeared to be the “must-have” for tractor and machinery companies, who believe that…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Takeover bid?

OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter