Milk price certainty
Westland Milk has reaffirmed its commitment to pay farmer suppliers 10c above Fonterra farm gate milk price for the following two seasons.
Westland Milk's new chief financial officer comes to the co-op with a track record in change management.
Dorian Devers joined Westland last week from the Linde Group (formerly the BOC Group) where he was financial director Africa, UK and Ireland and group chief financial officer for subsidiary Afrox.
Westland says Devers helped Afrox save NZ$48m, contributing to a 50% rise in its share price in his first year.
Westland chief executive Toni Brendish says she is “very excited” about Devers’ potential at Westland.
Brendish, appointed chief last September, has worked to improve Westland’s efficiency and cut costs, improve the co-op’s financial reporting and strengthen its core nutritionals market.
She also has a focus on partnerships with key commercial customers in priority, China especially. This has included strengthening the depth and experience of her management team.
Devers is the third new senior manager she has appointed, joining a new general manager China (Gary Yu) and a new chief operations officer (Craig Betty).
“Westland’s drive to improve its financial performance, and seek constructive mutually beneficial financial, technical and innovative relationships with key customers will be well supported by Dorian’s experience,” Brendish says.
“He has a proven record in leading transformational change in large and complex organisations to deliver sustainable benefits.”
Devers is married to Stephanie, a New Zealander, and they have three daughters Charlotte, Isla and Matilda.
He will be based at Westland’s Rolleston office.
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Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.
Making things simpler, not harder, for deer farmers in farm planning and coping with regulations is Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) industry capability manager John Ladley’s current focus.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is launching an online business directory called The Country Women’s Collective to promote and support entrepreneurial rural women.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill has joined the Campaign for Wool NZ as an ambassador, lending his name and profile to educate and advocate for New Zealand strong wool.
Living labs that bring together expertise at locations around New Zealand are among potential solutions identified by researchers to help the country move towards a more climate resilient future.