Jim van der Poel Honoured for 40 Years of Service to Dairy Industry
Dairy industry leader Jim van der Poel didn't make much of the invitation he received to the recent New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua.
Speaking at the co-op's annual meeting in Palmerston North yesterday, Fonterra chairman John Wilson described the Waikato farmer as a "hard working director".
"I have personally known Jim as a farmer and director for the past 20 years," he says.
"Apart from being a passionate and highly successful farmer, he has been a hard working director," he says.
Wilson thanked van der Poel for helping drive the co-op's success.
"He was always ready to step and put his shoulder to the wheel to help out the co-op."
Van der Poel thanked farmers for their support during the past 12 years.
"I really enjoyed my time at Fonterra; there were some challenging times," he says.
