Westland Milk Products shareholders confirmed farm owner, company director and former dairy veterinarian Andrew MacPherson as their newest director at the co-operative's annual general meeting last week.

Mr MacPherson (BVSc, MBA, FNZIM) has worked in a range of senior executive roles including as CEO. He has extensive experience across a range of agri-sector businesses as governor, senior manager, business owner and farm owner.

He currently lives in Te Awamutu but is part of an equity partnership, Sewell Peak Farm Ltd, a 365ha dairy property milking 920 cows northeast of Greymouth on the West Coast.

"Andrew will be an asset to his company," says Westland chair Pete Morrison.

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"He brings with him considerable experience as a business manager, director and owner. Throughout his career he has developed knowledge of driving performance and change in large organisations.

"This has included company restructuring and leading companies with international operations. He has led brand development and marketing plans. His governance roles have included dealing with a broad range of stakeholders."

Mr MacPherson built a successful veterinary practice and has owned both dairy and sheep-and-beef farms in the North Island, including the historic Waipaoa Station, where he was instrumental in establishing the award-winning Waipaoa Station Farm Cadet Training Trust.

He has held CEO roles of AgVax Developments, Canesis Network, and Nimmo-Bell and was country manager for Intervet. He also worked as GM Strategy and Performance, then GM Commercial Development, for Landcorp and is currently CEO of FarmCare and GrazCare

In addition to his dairy farm on the West Coast he is a part owner of a sheep milk business which recently won the supreme award at the Food Innovation Awards.

He has been a director for AgResearch and the Animal Health Board, and is currently chair of Te Ako Wools, Pastoral Robotics and the Cobb & Co chain of restaurants.

With shareholders recently approving a reduction in Westland's board from 11 to 8 (including a reduction in shareholder-elected directors from 8 to 5), and some current directors standing down, there was only one vacancy for Westland's board this year. Mr MacPherson was one of four candidates.