dairy group Fonterra has appointed Kelvin Wickham, who is currently President Greater China, to the newly created position of Managing Director Global Ingredients. Johan Priem, who is currently a member of the Office of the CEO, will become President Greater China, when Kevin Wickham assumes his new role on 1 August.Chief Executive Theo Spierings says the appointments would further strengthen Fonterra’s front bench. “This year one of our top business priorities is to optimise our global ingredients 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. Driving a focused international ingredients business is part of Kelvin’s DNA, having previously held senior global sales, marketing and optimisation positions both in Fonterra and earlier in his career at the NZ Dairy Board.”
Kevin Wickham has more than 25 years’ experience in the dairy industry, furthering Fonterra’s overseas markets, customer relationships and partnerships. Prior to leading the China business, he played a key part in developing sustainable co-operative performance. Earlier, he was Fonterra’s Managing Director of Global Trade, overseeing the launch of the GlobalDairyTrade auction platform. From 2005 to 2007, he was the Director of Sales and Operations Planning. Kevin Wickham held a number of senior global sales positions during his time with the NZ Dairy Board.
Johan Priem is ideally placed to assume his new role as President Greater China. He has held two senior Fonterra leadership positions in Asia. More recently, he has contributed to developing our approach to food safety and quality, and corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
Before joining Fonterra, Johan Priem was on the Board of Management at Royal Friesland Foods (which later became Royal FrieslandCampina). At various times, he was responsible for the branded consumer businesses in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and West Africa, as well as the Corporate Marketing function.
