8 July 2014
Ballance appoints Mark Wynne as incoming Chief Executive
Ballance Agri-Nutrients has appointed Mark Wynne to succeed outgoing Chief Executive, Larry Bilodeau, on his retirement
in September.
Mr Wynne has extensive experience in agri-business, including 20 years in the dairy industry, eight of them in senior
roles within Fonterra. He was previously President South Asia for Kimberly-Clark for five years, growing the United
States multi-national’s market share with brands like Kleenex and Huggies. He holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences
from Massey University, majoring in farm management and marketing.
Ballance Chairman, David Peacocke, said today Mr Wynne was the ideal candidate to lead the co-operative into its next
growth phase.
“He has a strong commitment to applying the benefits of science and innovation across the agricultural sector and that
mirrors our own commitment to research and to backing everything we offer with sound science. He understands
co-operatives and farmers and he also has a unique understanding of customers and consumers and what they want in
agricultural exports. Mark has led very successful teams in highly competitive global businesses like Kimberly-Clark,
turning over US$1.4 billion in his region. He has a very successful international track record.”
Mr Wynne spent some 15 years in Asia and the Middle East and Mr Peacocke says this experience means he will bring to
Ballance an invaluable perspective.
“As a co-operative we are very much in partnership with our farmer shareholders and we are also part of the significant
contribution agriculture makes to the New Zealand economy. Growing that contribution starts at the grass roots in New
Zealand because how we farm is now as important to international customers such as the major supermarket chains and to
consumers as what we produce. Mark will bring us the unique line of sight from the farm gate right out into our export
markets so we can support farmers to grow.”
Mr Wynne has spent the past two years investing in and mentoring technology and food businesses in bringing new products
to market. He says he is looking forward to his new role with Ballance.
“Ballance is a very strong co-operative and has kept pace with change in agriculture to span the full range of nutrients
used on farm, as well as farming technology. Technology and the information it delivers is crucial to making better
decisions on farm. I am a strong believer in ensuring innovation and science is a driver of agricultural growth and I
see Ballance playing a key role in that,” said Mr Wynne.
Mr Wynne is married with three children. He will take up the Chief Executive role on 29 September and be based at
Ballance’s head office in Tauranga.
ENDS