Shareholders voted to return Kay Antony, Neville Fielke and Ray Smith to the board, and elected Robert Lane, current chair of South West Credit Union to fill the remaining position.
Lane is a managing partner of SED Advisory, a business consultancy group, and has also held a number of senior positions in finance and governance throughout his career including the titles of finance controller and company secretary at the Warrnambool Co-operative Society Ltd, which he held for seven years.
Warrnambool’s chairman Terry Richardson, said that Lane’s extensive business experience will provide value to the board.
“The appointment of Mr Lane, with his director, executive and business advisor experience, will contribute to broadening the Board’s skill base needed to meet the ongoing complexities of doing business”.
Lane will replace retiring director, John Gall who served the company for over two decades.
Richardson paid tribute to Gall by stating “John is a long term milk supplier and was a valued and committed member of the Board, providing great service to the company over the 20 years he was a director”.
WCB is currently in the middle of a bidding war with Murray Goulburn, Bega Cheese Limited and Canadian dairy processor, Saputo.
WCB’s board has unanimously recommended that shareholders accept Saputo’s offer in absence of a superior proposal.
