Fonterra’s Pierre Venter named next vice chancellor of Massey University
The head of Fonterra's R&D facility in Palmerston North is set to literally cross the road and become the new vice chancellor at Massey University.
Fonterra has appointed Emma Parsons as its managing director strategy and optimisation, effective from 1 August 2022.
The newly developed role will have ownership and oversee the implementation of Fonterra’s strategy and plans to achieve Fonterra’s Long Term Aspirations.
The role will also bring a new level of focus on demand choices, and portfolio and asset management using analytics to inform decision making.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says he’s excited to have Parsons on board the Fonterra Management Team given her understanding and passion for the Co-op.
“Emma has a strong track record of delivery results. We’ve seen this most recently in her role as GM Capital Strategy where she led the development of the new capital structure for the Co-operative, which received overwhelming support,” he says.
“Emma is incredibly passionate about Fonterra and has had a long career with us, which began working at the local factory in her summer holidays and has spanned many different parts of the Co-operative.”
Prior to her role as GM capital strategy, Parsons was chief executive of Agrigate, a joint venture between Fonterra and LIC.
She has also held the position of Fonterra’s general manager responsible dairying and various other roles in Brazil and Argentina where she developed Fonterra’s export relationships and supply chain integration across Latin America.
Parsons has an MBA with first class honours from Massey University, and a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University of Wellington.
With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) has launched the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand with an exclusive pop-up restaurant experience in Shanghai.
Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.

OPINION: Every time politicians come up with an investment scheme where they're going to have a crack at 'picking winners'…
OPINION: What are the unions for these days?