Keith Cooper, Silver Fern Farms former chief executive Keith Cooper headed up New Zealand's biggest meat company, Dunedin-based Silver Fern Farms, for eight years before stepping down in October.
The meat industry is not for the faint-hearted and has had its ups and downs. Cooper successfully saw the company return toprofitability this year after a strategic review of the business and a focus on debt reduction, the firm making big losses in the previous two years. Cooper had been with the co-operative since 1989.
As chief executive, he led the creation of the Silver Fern Farms brand, and implemented a value creation plan.
"The business has made good progress this financial year following two very challenging years, however there is still much work to do," Cooper said in the company's October announcement.
After a grim 2012 and 2013, sheep meat prices are firm and beef prices have been hitting record highs.
New Zealand has 16 companies with 36 plants processing lamb and adult sheep. Insiders say too many companies, with too many plants competing for declining levels of stock, have in the past been big stumbling blocks for the sector.
