Fonterra signs HR high-flyer as 700 jobs go

By LIAM DANN

In the wake of news that it will shed 700 jobs Fonterra has appointed a British industrial relations expert as its new director of human resources.

Oxford-educated Jerry Saville, 53, will join Fonterra having completed a two-year assignment with Maxis Communications, Malaysia's fastest-growing mobile communications company.

He was head of organisational development for Maxis and played an important role in building its human resources.

Last year Maxis acquired rival mobile phone company TimeCel and undertook an internal reorganisation.

In addition to an MA in philosophy and psychology, Saville has a diploma in industrial relations.

As Fonterra's senior executive in charge of staffing issues he is likely to play a key role in the restructuring the company will go through in the next two years.

Fonterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier described Saville as an executive with extensive international experience in areas key to Fonterra - including compensation systems, leadership development, industrial relations and organisational design.

"We expect him to make a very valuable contribution," he said.

Fonterra has been without a head of human resources since Glen Petersen left following a senior management reshuffle in December.

Before working with Maxis, Saville had a 27-year career with Shell Oil where he held senior human resources roles in the USA, Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa.

His other senior positions at Shell included head of strategic planning (UK), retail network development manager (Australia) and vice-president of transformation (Europe).

Saville grew up on a farm and has family links to New Zealand.

He is also a keen sailor: he left Shell to compete in the Millennium Round the World Yacht Race.