Westland Milk Products chair to step down

Wednesday 26th October 2016

The chair of the Hokitika-based dairy cooperative, Westland Milk Products, is to step down and retire from the board at the end of March next year.

Matt O'Regan's decision means that the cooperative will have replaced both its chair and chief executive in the space of a year. Former Danone executive Toni Brendish took over as chief executive in September, replacing Rod Quin who had previously been in the role for seven years.

In a statement, O'Regan said he is staying on for a number of months to ensure continuity of governance, "By the end of March she (Toni Brendish) will have a very clear picture of the company and any major changes she needs to implement to strengthen and grow Westland's commercial success. This will be the best time for her and a new chair to begin working together."

O'Regan has been chair of Westland for the last seven years. He will remain as a shareholder/supplier.

Westland was founded in 1937 and is the nation's second-largest dairy cooperative, a distant second to Fonterra. Its annual report shows it has 430 farming families who supply it with milk and turnover of $639 million.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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