Search for Dairy Industry Leaders Underway

Media Statement – For Immediate Release

Friday, 30 August 2002

Search for Dairy Industry Leaders Underway

The Fonterra Shareholders’ Council today began its search for potential dairy industry leaders.

A letter was sent to over 200 Fonterra suppliers eligible to join the Council’s Advanced Training Programme encouraging them to put themselves forward for selection.

The Council is charged with administering training programmes for prospective Fonterra directors and councillors.

Council Chairman, Tony O’Boyle, says the Council is committed to ensuring that the very best talent from the shareholder base is sought and given the opportunity to develop skills required for future key leadership roles both within Fonterra and in local communities.

“It goes without saying that progressive and effective governance and representation are essential for the future growth and vitality of our co-operative and the prosperity of its shareholders,” Mr O’Boyle says.

The Council has appointed Deloitte HR to help identify the best candidates and assess their existing skills and potential. Mr O’Boyle says Deloitte HR have designed a robust, professional, fair and transparent selection process. “It is absolutely critical that we independently find the right people from our 13,000 shareholders to develop into our future leaders,” he says. “We have a huge talent pool to draw upon.”

“We need those eligible people who have a passion and commitment to our industry to step forward and express an interest.”

Fonterra suppliers eligible to put themselves forward for selection are:

- Participants of the Council’s Introductory or Stage One Training Programme
- Existing councillors
- Ex-councillors and former legacy company directors

Mr O’Boyle says the key aim of this ongoing selection process is to identify people with the necessary skills and experience now as well as those with the potential to develop the right skills, knowledge and experience in the future.

The Advanced Programme will be an individualised training and personal development programme designed to develop and foster the necessary skills for those who are interested in potentially taking up a governance or representational role in the future.

Mr O’Boyle says in the absence of the previous smaller dairy co-operative companies, finding effective training environments is challenging.

“Council is serious about providing an avenue for tomorrow’s leaders and hope a number will come forward and participate in the programme.” Mr O’Boyle says.

Ends

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