Fonterra's temporary chief knows his cows

By LIAM DANN

While Fonterra awaits the arrival of new Canadian boss Andrew Ferrier, another North American is holding the fort.

Chief operating officer Jay Waldvogel, who was tipped as an early contender for the top job, will run New Zealand's largest company for the next two months.

A native of Wisconsin, he settled in New Zealand in 2000 to head Fonterra's global ingredients marketing team.

Rising quickly through the ranks, he was appointed global network director of New Zealand Milk Products in 2001. He was made chief operating officer last November.

Waldvogel is described by those who have worked with him as a quiet man with an impressive understanding of the dairy sector.

"He's well respected in the industry, that's about all I know about him," said Dairy Farmers of New Zealand chairman Kevin Wooding.

He is dedicated to the dairy business - and in particular to its most important participants.

"I am still addicted to cows," he told his old college fraternity publication in 1999.

"I probably subscribe to more cow magazines than anyone else on the planet who does not own a cow."

An industry insider who has worked with him said: "He does have a fascinating passion for cows. Some people collect model racing cars, he collects pictures of cows."

Coming from a farming background in the heartland of United States dairy country Waldvogel knew how farmers thought, said the former colleague.

"He is enthusiastic about the potential of the business and has gained insiders' respect through his transparent competence."

Waldvogel was the ideal person to handle the complexities of the business while Ferrier took the leadership role, he said.

Now based in Wellington with his wife and three young children, Waldvogel's first move out of the US was to the Netherlands.

After working for a regional dairy co-operative he joined DMV International - a division of European dairy giant Campina Melkunie - in 1991 at its Wisconsin base.

He started in a financial role but worked up to director of operations and logistics before moving to DNV's Netherlands head office in 1994.

In 1998 DMV made him managing director of Creamy Creation, a division of Campina's industrial products group.

The role gave him the kind of high-tech experience he needed to run Fonterra's ingredients business.

Creamy Creation specialises in producing stable dairy liquids that can be used in cream-based alcoholic beverages.

Waldvogel's US background is an asset to Fonterra. He is a director of Dairy Concepts, Fonterra's joint venture with US mega co-op Dairy Farmers of America.

Waldvogel has a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin.