July appointments in the dairy industry

As with our monthly products round up, we are always happy to receive details of new appointments at the executive level from dairy-related companies around the world. If you have a recent appointment to add, please send the details along with a photo to us here​​.

New COO for Westland

In New Zealand, Westland Milk Products chief executive Toni Brendish has appointed a new chief operations officer, Craig Betty.

It is the second new appointment to Westland’s senior management team following Gary Yu taking the role of general manager, China.

Prior to joining Westland, Betty was regional general manager operations for the lower North Island for Fonterra and has had a career with Fonterra dating back to 2002.

Fonterra appoints general manager of Māori strategy

Fonterra has appointed Tiaki Hunia general manager, Māori Strategy/Pouhere Māori. 

Hunia will work on strategic Māori commitments and Fonterra’s bicultural capability. He will work across the business, to lead, build and implement a strong partnership with Māori. 

Prior to joining Fonterra, Hunia worked with Te Puni Kōkiri (the principal advisor on New Zealand Government-Māori relationships), and as deputy Maori trustee, Te Tumu Paeroa (an independent organization supporting Māori land owners).

He has a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Māori from the University of Auckland. He has previously been admitted as a Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and is a member of the Institute of Directors.  

President of DSM Food Specialties

Royal DSM, a Netherlands-based global science-based company active in health, nutrition, and materials, has named Patrick Niels as president of DSM Food Specialties as of August 1, 2017.

Niels has held leadership roles across a number of regions and businesses for DSM, most recently as president DSM Resins & Functional Materials.

Niels began his career at Gist-Brocades in 1991, and held several marketing, sales and business management roles before the company was acquired by DSM in 1997.

Niels succeeds Ilona Haaijer, who has decided to continue her career outside DSM. Helen Mets will succeed Niels as president DSM Resins & Functional Materials.

Dairy Farmers of Canada appoint new president and form executive committee at AGM

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has elected Pierre Lampron as its new president. He takes over from Wally Smith, who served for three terms prior to stepping down.

Additionally, a new DFC executive committee has been formed, comprised of David Wiens, Reint-Jan Dykstra, Ralph Dietrich, and Bruno Letendre.

The election for a new DFC president was held at the annual general meeting (AGM) in Alberta, where dairy farmers from across Canada participated in industry discussions and sessions including upcoming renegotiations of NAFTA.

"While we face challenges, in the coming months as we head into the re-negotiation of NAFTA and proposed changes to nutrition regulations, I am confident that united, we will be successful,"​ Lampron said.

The AGM also included the official signing of the Rotterdam Declaration by representatives of the Canadian dairy industry, which aims to reiterate the integrated approach that the dairy sector continues to take towards enhancing its sustainability.

Weber Packaging Solutions names new VP of marketing

Weber Packaging Solutions has named Tom Michalsen as its new vice president of marketing.

The company produces a variety of food labels including dairy products.

Michalsen, who has been with the company for 36 years, will be responsible for executing marketing and communication strategies to build wider awareness of the Weber product line; creating marketing plans that support sales growth; increasing Weber’s revenue and market share; and executing programs and approaches that differentiate Weber from its competitors.

Former Nestlé Foods exec to help lead Yooli Foods

iSnak president, Cary Richardson, will drive the business expansion of Yooli Foods, a new player in the dairy segment focusing on farmer’s cheese based products. Farmer’s cheese is a soft cheese, low in sodium, and 99% lactose free.

"Cary will spearhead our business development plans to introduce Farmer's Cheese to mainstream US consumers, in the form of healthy, convenient and innovative snacks,"​ Yuliya Flynn, founder and CEO of Yooli said.   

Previously, Richardson served in executive roles with food companies including Nestlé Foods, Tyson Foods, and Foster Farms.

G. Willi-Food announces new CEO

Israel-based G. Willi-Food International Ltd., a global company that specializes in the development, marketing and international distribution of kosher foods, announced that the company's board of directors approved the appointment of Tim Cranko as its new CEO, effective July 6, 2017.

Cranko served since February 2013 as the manager of the food division of Galam Ltd., an Israeli company that manufactures and sells food ingredients.

From 2009 until 2013, Cranko was CEO of Pharm-Up-Novolog, an Israeli distributor of pharmaceutical products.

Cranko holds a BA (International Relations) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MSM (Masters of Science, Management) from Boston University.

At the same time, G. Willi-Food appointed Victor Bar as a director of the company.