Chief executive officer and managing director, of big dairy processor, National Foods, Ashley Waugh, has announced he will step aside at the end of October.
The decision follows the successful vote yesterday by shareholders in brewing giant Lion Nathan to accept Japanese food and beverage company, Kirin’s offer for their shares and the resultant change in corporate reporting.
Kerin is the parent company for National Foods and the Dairy Farmers company fellow Mr Waugh said it was an appropriate time to leave National Foods, making way for new leadership to take the company on the next part of its journey.
“My career with National Foods has been exciting, challenging and rewarding and I reflect on many personal highlights such as the successful acquisitions including the major integration with Dairy Farmers,” Mr Waugh said.
“National Foods has gone from $1.2 billion in turnover to $3.5 billion in four years.”
Mr Waugh joined National Foods when it acquired the King Island Company in 2002.
He took the role of CEO in 2005 and oversaw National’s acquisition and integration of Lactos Cheese in 2006, Hillwood Cheese in 2008 and Dairy Farmers in 2008.
His successor is still to be announced.
