By PHILIPPA STEVENSON
Fonterra has moved quickly to fill the gap left by the abrupt departure of Chris Moller, the head of its biggest business, New Zealand Milk Products (NZMP).
From within its senior ranks, the company yesterday appointed American Jay Waldvogel as its chief operating officer.
Moller - a 15-year industry
veteran - turned down the job a month ago when restructuring brought NZMP directly under the control of the Fonterra head office.
Waldvogel has been with the company two years after joining its forerunner, the Dairy Board, in 2000 as NZMP's global marketing director.
After Fonterra formed in October last year, he was named NZMP's global network director.
Before joining the board, Waldvogel, born and educated in the US, held a number of positions with DMV International in Holland. DMV is the industrial ingredients division of international dairy co-op Campina, one of the world's largest dairy companies.
Fonterra chief executive Craig Norgate said Waldvogel's international experience and knowledge of the global dairy industry made him a world-class candidate for the new job.
Norgate is expected next week to announce the effects of NZMP's restructuring on its Wellington and Hamilton staff.
Job losses in Wellington at the former Dairy Board headquarters in Pastoral House have been put at between 30 and 250, and Hamilton-based staff are also reported to be affected.
