Our people are our inspiration.
Our people (OLD)
650
number of people employed
2nd
largest New Zealand dairy co-operative
429
farms across the West Coast and Canterbury
Our people are our inspiration bringing with them the same passion, grounded expertise and natural determination that defines our brand. This is a promise of a natural tenacity to do right by our customers, our animals and our environment.
Our people
Erica Reeves
Head of Purchasing and Procurement
Originally from Gisborne in the North Island, Westland’s new Head of Purchasing and Procurement, Erica Reeves, thinks many people overlook the opportunities that working for a company in a small town provides.
Viet Tran
Engineering Technician & Winner of the Scott Ellington Supreme Award
Viet’s initiative and can-do attitude made him an obvious choice to receive Westland’s top annual employee recognition, the 2018 Scott Eglinton Supreme Award.
Chris Pullen Senior & Junior
Environmental Manager and Reliability Leader
Just as there are generations of farmers working to supply Westland, there are also generations of employees helping make beautiful products.
Mark and Christine Burnett
Shareholders
Understanding the reasons why their farm produces in a certain way is integral to the success of Shareholders Mark and Christine Burnett. Just inland from the coast near Tauranga Bay at Westport, fields of lush grass are testament to the hard work that the Burnetts have put into their farm.
The Langridge Family
Shareholders
Three generations of the Langridge family have farmed in the West Coast’s Taramakau Valley. The property encompasses some 429ha with 500 milking cows. There are support blocks and a 50ha deer unit as well.
Making Beautiful Butter
The secret to making butter as good as Westland does is time. It’s time that has been spent perfecting the traditional Fritz churn method. In Westland’s butter team staff have spent an average of 20,000 hours (or 10 years) producing butter, with one person making butter for Westland for more than 50 years.
Find out more
Viet Tran
Viet’s initiative and can-do attitude made him an obvious choice to receive Westland’s top annual employee recognition, the 2018 Scott Eglinton Supreme Award.
Read more
Erica Reeves
Originally from Gisborne in the North Island, Westland’s new Head of Purchasing and Procurement, Erica Reeves, thinks many people overlook the opportunities that working for a company in a small town provides. Shifting from Christchurch to Hokitika was a career move for Erica.
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The Pullen Family
Just as there are generations of farmers working to supply Westland, there are also generations of employees helping make beautiful products. Familial ties shine through particularly in work ethic, as family members don’t want to let others down. No more so than in the Pullen family.
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Board of Directors: Meet some of them
Pete Morrison
Chairman
Pete Morrison was elected Chairman in March 2017 having been elected to the Board as a Director in 2015 following more than 15 years supplying Westland Milk Products from farms in both Canterbury and the West Coast.
Katie Milne
General Director
Katie Milne was elected to the Westland Board in 2016 and to the position of Deputy Chair in March 2017. She lives and farms at Rotomanu, and is currently a member of Federated Farmers National Board.
Keith Smith
Appointed Director
Keith Smith is a Professional Director based in Auckland. Keith chairs Westland's Audit Committee. He spent 27 years as a Chartered Accountant with BDO, specialising in Corporate re-organisation and re-structuring.
Executive Leadership Team: Meet some of the team
Toni Brendish
Chief Executive Officer
Toni joined Westland as Chief Executive in 2016, having spent a large part of her career within the Danone Group as Managing Director of Nutricia Australia and New Zealand and Managing Director of Danone Dumex (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
John McKenna
Interim Chief Financial Officer
John started with Westland as the interim Chief Financial Officer on 15 October 2018.
Irish-born, John has extensive
experience working in executive
positions in the Irish
Dairy industry.
Irish-born, John has extensive
experience working in executive
positions in the Irish
Dairy industry.
Craig Betty
Chief Operating Officer
Joining Westland in July 2017, Craig's remit is to ensure effective productivity, with a strong focus on safety, quality and sustainability. Westland’s manufacturing, quality and supply chain functions are all the responsibility of the COO.