New managing director global operations for Fonterra

Robert Spurway has been appointed as Fonterra’s managing director global operations, a newly created position on Fonterra’s management team. Spurway’s new role will commence on 1 August.

“Robert is currently acting director New Zealand Operations in NZ Milk Products, responsible for overseeing milk collection, manufacturing and logistics for the co-operative’s New Zealand milk supply,” said Theo Spierings, Fonterra chief executive.

“One of our top business priorities is to optimise our global ingredients sales and operations footprint, so we can better manage price volatility and increase value, while ensuring a total focus on food safety and quality, and our customers’ needs.

“In his new role, Robert will lead the integration of our global milk production capacity. While our operations will remain predominantly New Zealand based and our primary commitment is to our New Zealand farmer shareholders, it is important to have more options about what products we make and where we make them, to complement our New Zealand milk.

“Just as we have a global sales team selling ingredients around the world, we also need an integrated approach to global manufacturing in markets where we have a natural competitive advantage and access to local milk pools.

“Robert’s appointment today means he will bring his deep knowledge of the co-operative and his proven leadership abilities to this next important stage in securing Fonterra’s global relevance.”

Spurway has more than 20 years’ experience in the food and dairy industries. After managing the Northland Dairy Company’s Dargaville site, he moved to Australia in 1999 where he held various roles in Goodman Fielder Australia. From 2008-2011 he led two food companies, before returning to New Zealand to become Fonterra’s South Island regional operations manager. In this role, Spurway oversaw the greenfield development of the co-operative’s Darfield site.