Management Team

Miles was appointed Chief Executive in 2018. He is responsible for leading the organisation, delivering strategy and financial performance, and engaging with our farmer owners, employees, customers and shareholders.

As Chief Executive, Miles has led the Co-operative through strategic reviews into a new growth phase focused on New Zealand’s pasture-based milk, dairy innovation and science and sustainability.

Previously, Miles held the role of Chief Operating Officer, Farm Source, with responsibility for farmer services and engagement, milk sourcing and the operation of New Zealand’s 70 Farm Source™ retail stores.

Miles has also held a number of leadership roles across the Co-op, including Group Co-operative Affairs Director and General Manager Middle East, Africa, Russia and Eastern Europe where he led a period of sustained growth across the region. Earlier in his career, Miles worked as the General Manager of Global Sourcing, building relationships with many of our global partners of today.

Miles has completed management programmes at INSEAD (International Executive Development), London Business School (Finance), Kellogg’s NorthWestern University (Global Sales) and IMD Switzerland (Global Marketing).

Neil Beaumont joined Fonterra in 2023 and is responsible for the Co-operative’s finances, its financial portfolios, as well as mergers and acquisitions. He is a highly accomplished Chief Financial Officer with 25+ years of diverse and global finance leadership experience, having lived and worked in Canada, Australia, and Chile.

Most recently, Neil was Group CFRO of Canada’s largest investment fund – the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) – responsible for finance, risk, and strategic planning of this C$500B+ organisation.

Prior to that, he had a six-year career with Australian multinational resources company BHP, where he spent time in both Group Finance and as CFO for the Minerals Americas region.

Neil also spent over ten years as a Senior Partner with KPMG operating as Business Unit Leader for Canada’s Western region, with broad-reaching leadership across 13 offices and industry client responsibility across agriculture, resources, technology, and oil and gas.

He is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

Fraser is responsible for our New Zealand manufacturing site and global supply chain operations, sustainability, IT and safety, quality and regulatory teams.

He joined the Co-operative from Mercury, a 100% renewable electricity retailer and generator, where he was the Chief Executive from 2014 and held executive roles since joining the company in 2008.

Fraser is no stranger to the dairy industry. He started his career as a graduate of the New Zealand Dairy Board’s technical training programme and spent time at manufacturing sites that are now part of the Co-op, and also in Fonterra’s export markets. He has also worked in the investment banking and forestry industries, both in New Zealand and internationally.

Fraser is a keen advocate for astute long-term decisions that leverage New Zealand’s competitive advantages, including its people, for sustainable growth.

He served as a Non-Executive Director of Opus International Consultants from 2008 – 2016 and of Tilt Renewables and Chaired the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council. In 2019 he was named the Deloitte Top 200 Chief Executive of the year.

Fraser holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge, a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Canterbury University and a Diploma in Dairy Science and Technology from Massey University.

Komal leads Fonterra’s innovation, research and development functions along with the Co-operative’s brand and communications activities. This includes shaping the future of Fonterra by developing and commercialising innovation, technologies and new business models.

In addition, Komal oversees the Active Living Business Unit, and has responsibility for setting the global strategy for Core Dairy, Foodservice and the Nutrition Science portfolio.

Prior to joining the Fonterra Management Team in August 2022, Komal led Fonterra’s high-value global ingredients business Active Living, unlocking growth through developing and commercialising science-backed health and wellness solutions. In her prior role, Komal’s work establishing and developing Fonterra Ventures earned her the title of New Zealand’s Young Executive of the Year in the 2017 Deloitte Top 200 Awards. Prior to joining Fonterra in 2011, Komal worked for Deloitte in Europe.

She is known for her leadership in developing people and her strong advocacy for diversity and inclusion.

Komal has completed the Executive Program at Stanford University School of Business and holds Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Management degrees from the University of Waikato. She is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand as well as a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Emma leads Fonterra’s work on strategy and optimisation, overseeing the central portfolio management function, and the development and implementation of strategy.

Prior to August 2022 when Emma joined the Fonterra Management Team, she was the General Manager of Capital Strategy and CEO of Agrigate, a joint venture between Fonterra and Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), GM Responsible Dairying, and had roles in Brazil and Argentina where she developed the Co-operative’s export relationships and supply chain integration across Latin America.

Before joining Fonterra in 2001, Emma worked for the New Zealand Dairy Board and Kiwi Dairies.

She has a Master of Business Administration, with First Class Honours, from Massey University, and has Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from Victoria University of Wellington.

Kate was appointed as Managing Director People and Culture in August 2021.

She has oversight of the teams responsible for facilitating Fonterra’s people strategy including Culture and Wellbeing, Employment Relations, Leadership Development, Talent and Future Capabilities, Rewards and Global Mobility.

Kate first joined Fonterra in December 2020, making significant contribution to the Co-operative as Director of HR for COO, where she held responsibility for leading the HR function for Fonterra across NZ Manufacturing, Technical Excellence, Global Supply Chain, Global Sustainability, Global Quality & Safety, Category Strategy & Innovation and Information Technology.

Prior to joining Fonterra, Kate had extensive experience in Human Resources and Communications leadership, having held senior roles across these portfolios since 2001. Kate previously led a transformation of the People and Culture function at the BNZ. She also was appointed as the Chief People and Communications Officer with Fletcher Building Ltd. Kate was awarded the HRINZ HR person of the year in 2018 in recognition for her contribution to Fletcher Building.

Kate has a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and International Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology, both from the University of Auckland.

Mike Cronin oversees Co-operative Affairs which includes Governance, Risk and Audit, Farm Source, Global Sustainability, Stakeholder Affairs and Trade, Legal, Inclusion and Māori Strategy.

Mike joined Fonterra in 2002 and has been a member of teams that have contributed to some of Fonterra’s key initiatives, including Trading Among Farmers, the Governance and Representation Review, the Fonterra Purpose, The Co-operative Difference and Flexible Shareholding.

Prior to 2014 when he joined the Fonterra Management Team, Mike was the General Manager of Strategy Deployment and then Group Director Governance and Legal.

Mike has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland.

Judith Swales leads Fonterra’s Global Markets region, representing NZ$16 billion in revenue for the Co-op. Responsible for our Consumer, Foodservice and Ingredients channels across the region, Judith and her team lead the global strategy to help bring the goodness of dairy to generations of customers and consumers with products that support every life stage.

Combining over 5,300 talented employees, 83 nationalities and hundreds of cultures, Global Markets comprises markets including New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and the Indian cluster, North Asia, and the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Prior to this Judith was Fonterra’s CEO for Asia Pacific, responsible for all sales and marketing of Fonterra’s Consumer, Foodservice and Ingredients products. She earlier led the Global Consumer and Foodservice business, and the Innovation and Transformation business unit.

Judith joined the Co-operative in 2013 as Managing Director Australia and Fonterra Oceania, where she led the successful turnaround of the Australian business and oversaw Fonterra Brands New Zealand.

The daughter of a milkman, Judith grew up helping her father on his daily milk run. She has extensive experience in senior management and business turnarounds. Before joining Fonterra, she was the Managing Director of Heinz Australia, and CEO and Managing Director of Goodyear Dunlop, Australia and New Zealand. Judith worked for several UK retailers, culminating in her move to Australia in 2001 as the Managing Director of Angus and Robertson.

She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director for Super Retail Group and has served on the boards of Virgin Australia, DuluxGroup and Fosters. 

Judith has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Microbiology and Virology and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Teh-han oversees the Co-op’s business in the Greater China region, including Ingredients, Foodservices and Consumer Brands. The region is one of the largest markets for Fonterra, accounting for roughly a third of the Co-op’s total business.

Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Greater China region in 2020, Teh-han was President of Fonterra’s ingredients business, NZMP, in Greater China, and South and East Asia.

Teh-han has over 20 years of experience in China across a variety of industries and functions, including marketing, public relations, advertising, sales, and management roles in food, agriculture, commodities, FMCG, luxury goods, and hospitality sectors.

Prior to joining Fonterra in 2015, Teh-han was Chief Executive Officer of Louis Dreyfus Commodities China, where he doubled the business, expanded the company’s business lines, built and acquired production facilities, and was involved in establishing multiple joint-ventures including COFCO Agricultural Industry Investment Fund. Prior to Louis Dreyfus, Teh-han was Managing Director for Greater China for J.R. Simplot, a United States-based diversified agribusiness with farming and food processing operations in China.

Teh-han has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from California State University Northridge, and a Master’s degree, with honours, in International Management from Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management.