Fonterra has  announced new appointments for two of its senior leaders.

Mike Cronin, who is currently group director for governance and legal, is stepping into the newly created role of managing director for Corporate Affairs, effective immediately.

Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings said Cronin’s connection with the business, and its risk and reputation drivers, makes him the natural choice for the role.

“Mike has extensive experience in corporate risk and reputation management, and providing trusted strategic counsel to the co-operative,” Spierings said.

Spierings said Cronin has an in-depth understanding of New Zealand and the co-operative, and the internal and external dynamics of their business.

“This, combined with his strong stakeholder management skills, provides Mike with the required skills to lead a team responsible for enhancing and protecting Fonterra’s brand and reputation, including governance and legal, health and safety, food safety and quality, brand, social responsibility and communications, and stakeholder affairs.”

Joanne Fair, currently Fonterra’s regional director for ingredients, south east Asia, has been appointed to the role of managing director for People and Culture, effective July 1.

Spierings said Fair is ideally placed to lead the co-operative’s People and Culture team as she has a strong background and expertise in human resources and has held global and regional commercial leadership roles, having worked with Fonterra across New Zealand, Latin America, Europe and South East Asia.

“With over a decade of experience in the dairy industry, Jo is an experienced senior human resources and commercial leader, with a strong understanding of how Fonterra operates,” he said. “She has shown agility in working with diverse cultures and customers, and her human resources and commercial experience positions her well to lead a team responsible for delivering our people strategy, and organisational health and engagement.”

Both Cronin and Fair will report directly to Spierings.