FSF
28/10/2015 10:57
OFFICE
NOT PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 1057 HRS Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)
OFFICE: FSF: Fonterra management appointment
28 OCTOBER 2015
Fonterra management appointment
Fonterra Co-operative Group has promoted Judith Swales to the new role of
Managing Director Oceania.
Announcing the appointment, Fonterra CEO Mr Spierings said Ms Swales was the
natural choice to lead Oceania which is comprised of Fonterra's Australian
business and its NZ consumer businesses, including Tip Top.
Ms Swales joins the Fonterra Management Team, reporting directly to CEO Theo
Spierings. She has been the Co-operative's Managing Director Australia since
2013, following leadership roles with Heinz Australasia and Goodyear Dunlop
Australia.
"Judith has a great understanding of consumers and their relationship to
brands and has proven her ability to build effective partnerships in the
highly competitive supermarket sector in Australia. By having Judith lead
Oceania we are ensuring the growth of our brands on both sides of the Tasman.
"Judith also has extensive experience in business transformation and has led
the reshaping of our Australian operations. She will continue to progress our
detailed plan to lift our performance and profitability in Australia. Judith
has already achieved progress in a difficult environment and the turnaround
is reaching a point where she is more than capable of taking on expanded
responsibilities."
Mr Spierings said a number of Fonterra's consumer brands, including
Mainland(TM), Perfect Italiano(TM) and Anchor(TM) were sold on both sides of
the Tasman. Having the full portfolio under one business unit also ensured
opportunities for growth and innovation in both consumer and foodservice can
be fully maximised in line with the Co-operative's volume and value strategy.
Bringing the brands portfolio and businesses together was very strongly in
line with Fonterra's drive to focus resources on achieving faster results
efficiently and sustainably.
FBNZ will continue to run as a standalone business in NZ, under the Managing
Director of FBNZ who will report into Judith Swales. Jonathan Box is
currently acting in this role. Fonterra is working through a process to
appoint a permanent person to this role.
Ms Swales will remain based in Melbourne, and her appointment will take
effect 1 November 2015.
-ENDS-
For further information contact:
Simon Till
Director Capital Markets
Phone: +64 21 777807
End CA:00272411 For:FSF Type:OFFICE Time:2015-10-28 10:57:31
