Richmond picks dairy man for interim role

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON agriculture editor

Dairy industry troubleshooter Graeme Milne will try his skills in the meat industry after being appointed interim chief executive of Richmond.

The company said yesterday the appointment, expected to last until next April, would allow its ownership issues to be clarified by the High Court before a permanent replacement for outgoing executive John Loughlin was made.

The High Court at Christchurch is due to establish the status of Richmond's main shareholder, South Island meat company PPCS, next month.

Loughlin is due to leave in October. Last month when his departure was announced the company was confident a replacement could be found in time.

But yesterday chairman Sam Robinson said the timeframe for the appointment had gone "beyond the period previously envisaged by all parties".

"The board recognises that it is not feasible to begin the permanent appointment process until after the shareholding issue, now before the High Court, is resolved, and there is clarity regarding the ownership of the company going forward," he said.

Milne, most recently acting chief executive of Bonlac Foods in Australia, will start immediately.

He restructured Bonlac during an eight-month tenure after Fonterra took a 25 per cent share in the company. He remains a Bonlac director.

Milne has had a long career in the dairy industry here and internationally, latterly heading New Zealand Dairy Group for 15 months, leaving the company suddenly in September 2000 during the stormy build-up to the formation of Fonterra.

Loughlin said he fully agreed with the interim appointment, and would give Milne his support.