CO-OPERATIVE NEWS
Kevin Cooney to become Acting CEO from April Farmlands Chief Executive Officer, Peter Reidie will finish up with the co-operative on 31st March. The announcement was made to staff at the end of January, during the Farmlands National Conference, Grow 2021. Farmlands Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Cooney will take on the role of Acting Chief Executive from 1st April, until a permanent appointment is made. Farmlands Chairman Rob Hewett says a recruitment process is underway. In the meantime, Kevin will be supported by the wider Farmlands Leadership Team and Board in his dual role. “Given the recruitment process can take a reasonable length of time, particularly in these COVID-19 affected times, it is important to provide both shareholders and staff with certainty of leadership,” Rob says. “Kevin is a proven leader in business leadership, strategy and transformation, with a track record of delivering outcomes in complex business environments – and of course, he is very familiar with the business already.” Peter Reidie joined Farmlands in 2015, having spent the previous 7 years with Goodman Fielder in a variety of roles, including Managing Director Australia/New Zealand. Rob says Peter leaves a lasting legacy with Farmlands Co-operative. “Peter was given the task of taking our co-operative and future proofing it for the modern challenges our business – and our shareholders – face,” he says. “This has been achieved while retaining what makes Farmlands so special – the relationships in the provinces, towns
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and communities that have been built over generations.” Rob says the biggest achievement during Peter’s tenure was Braveheart – a 3-year business transformation programme that shifted all of Farmlands’ out-of-date systems onto one platform. “Braveheart needed to happen – and Peter got us there,” Rob says. “Farmlands used to be a series of businesses, with different processes and systems. Through the hard work of Farmlanders across the country, steered by Peter’s leadership, we can now provide shareholders with better innovation and solutions. Our ambition is to build on this even further to bring more benefits to our members.” Peter has previously announced he is leaving Farmlands Co-operative to take over as Chief Executive of Sanford, New Zealand’s largest fishing company.
| (Above) Kevin Cooney will become Acting CEO from 1st April. (Below) Peter addresses staff at the Farmlands National Conference, Grow 2021.
Peter was given the task of taking our co-operative and future proofing it for the modern challenges our business – and our shareholders – face.”
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THE FARMLANDER | 17
