Fonterra Co-operative Group has appointed Elizabeth (Liz) Coutts ONZM as Chair-elect for Mainland Group following a Director search undertaken by SEQEL Partners.  

Mainland Group is the proposed divestment entity of Fonterra’s global Consumer business.

An internationally recognised director and executive, Liz has a proven track record of over 20 years as a Board Director, Audit Committee Chair and Board Chair across a range of sectors. She brings extensive governance experience from both large private and public companies. Liz is currently Chair of the ASX and NZX-listed company EBOS Group, Chair of Oceania Healthcare, as well as Chair of the private telecommunications company 2degrees Group.

She is the former Chief Executive of the Caxton Group of Companies. Caxton had been one of New Zealand’s largest privately owned companies and a vertically integrated forestry, pulp, tissue paper and consumer marketing business which had operations in New Zealand and the Pacific, and markets in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the US.

Liz has previously been the Chair of Skellerup Holdings, Ports of Auckland, Meritec Group, Industrial Research and Life Pharmacy. She is a former director of Air New Zealand, the Health Funding Authority, Sanford, the Yellow Group of Companies and Tennis Auckland Region. Other prior governance mandates include serving as the Deputy Chairman of Public Trust, a board member of Sport NZ, a member of the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Pharmac), a Commissioner for both the Commerce and Earthquake Commissions, an external monetary policy adviser to the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and a president of the Institute of Directors. 

For more information, please see the NZX announcement.