Fonterra Executive and Leadership Team

October, 2026

Leadership Overview

Fonterra has 10 executives leading key functions including technology, information systems, operations, financial management, and commercial strategy.

Driven by a commitment to global dairy excellence, Fonterra advances the science of nutrition while maintaining a robust supply chain that connects New Zealand dairy innovation to international markets.

Leadership Roles at Fonterra

  • Chief Financial Officer & Global Director, Commercial Markets Consumer Foodservice - Brendon Connolly
  • Global Chief Financial Officer, Markets Ingredients - Ronald Kumar
  • Head Chief Financial Officer, PC Office of The & Co-Operative Affairs - Carrie Hendriks
  • Chief Operating Officer - Anna Palairet
  • Chief Operating Officer & Operations Office) Incident Chief & Manager - Maryann Walsh
  • Director, Commercial & Chief Operating Officer (Nz Operations) - Bhavesh Morar
  • Technical To The Associate & Chief Operating Officer - Richard Todd
  • General Manager, Technical Capability & Chief Operating Officer - Sapumal Thibbotuwawa
  • Chief Technology Officer - Scott Pyles
  • Chief Information Officer - Toby Granwal
  • Brendon Connolly - Chief Financial Officer & Global Director, Commercial Markets Consumer Foodservice

    Brendon Connolly, the Chief Financial Officer & Global Director, Commercial Markets Consumer Foodservice at Fonterra, directs the financial strategy and commercial growth of the consumer foodservice division. Overseeing the allocation of capital to high-growth market segments, the Chief Financial Officer & Global Director, Commercial Markets Consumer Foodservice ensures that financial performance aligns with long-term corporate objectives. This leadership role involves analyzing market trends to identify opportunities for expanding the reach of dairy products in the foodservice sector. By managing fiscal health and commercial partnerships, Brendon Connolly directly impacts the revenue growth of the organization. Connolly secures financial stability by implementing rigorous budgeting and forecasting processes across global markets. Through the strategic oversight of commercial initiatives, the Chief Financial Officer & Global Director, Commercial Markets Consumer Foodservice drives the adoption of innovative dairy solutions in professional kitchens worldwide. This focus on financial discipline and commercial expansion supports the company's mission to lead the global dairy industry through sustainable and profitable growth.
    Brendon Connolly

    Ronald Kumar - Global Chief Financial Officer, Markets Ingredients

    Ronald Kumar, the Global Chief Financial Officer, Markets Ingredients at Fonterra, directs the financial operations and commercial strategy for the ingredients division. Overseeing the pricing and profitability of dairy ingredients sold to global manufacturers, the Global Chief Financial Officer, Markets Ingredients ensures that financial performance remains robust across diverse international markets. This leadership role involves managing the financial risks associated with commodity price volatility and global trade dynamics. By optimizing the cost structure of the ingredients business, Ronald Kumar directly impacts the overall profitability of the organization. Kumar secures financial health by implementing strategic investment plans that support the growth of the ingredients portfolio. Through the analysis of global market demand, the Global Chief Financial Officer, Markets Ingredients provides the financial framework necessary for expanding the company's footprint in the dairy ingredients sector. This focus on financial management and market intelligence enables the company to sustain its leadership in the global dairy ingredients market.

    Carrie Hendriks - Head Chief Financial Officer, PC Office of The & Co-Operative Affairs

    Carrie Hendriks, the Head Chief Financial Officer, PC Office of The & Co-Operative Affairs at Fonterra, directs the financial reporting and cooperative governance functions. Overseeing the financial transparency and accountability of the cooperative structure, the Head Chief Financial Officer, PC Office of The & Co-Operative Affairs ensures that the organization maintains strong relationships with its farmer-owners. This leadership role involves managing the financial aspects of cooperative affairs and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. By overseeing the financial health of the cooperative, Carrie Hendriks directly impacts the long-term sustainability of the business model. Hendriks secures the trust of stakeholders by providing accurate and timely financial information regarding the company's performance. Through the management of cooperative affairs, the Head Chief Financial Officer, PC Office of The & Co-Operative Affairs supports the alignment of the company's strategic goals with the interests of its owners. This focus on financial governance and cooperative relations is essential for maintaining the company's unique position in the global dairy industry.

    Anna Palairet - Chief Operating Officer

    Anna Palairet, the Chief Operating Officer at Fonterra, directs the end-to-end supply chain and logistics strategy for dairy exports. Overseeing the movement of products from processing plants to international distribution hubs, the Chief Operating Officer ensures that global demand is met with precision and efficiency. This leadership role involves coordinating with regional teams to optimize inventory levels and reduce transit times across diverse geographic markets. By streamlining procurement and distribution channels, Anna Palairet directly impacts the profitability of the dairy export business. Palairet secures operational excellence by implementing lean manufacturing principles throughout the production cycle. Through the management of complex logistics networks, the Chief Operating Officer maintains the high standards of quality expected from the company's dairy science initiatives. This focus on operational scale and reliability allows the organization to navigate global market fluctuations while delivering consistent value to customers and stakeholders across the international dairy industry.

    Maryann Walsh - Chief Operating Officer & Operations Office) Incident Chief & Manager

    Maryann Walsh, the Chief Operating Officer & Operations Office) Incident Chief & Manager at Fonterra, directs crisis management and operational continuity protocols. Overseeing the rapid response to supply chain disruptions, the Chief Operating Officer & Operations Office) Incident Chief & Manager ensures that manufacturing output remains stable during unforeseen events. This leadership role involves developing comprehensive risk mitigation strategies to protect the integrity of dairy production and distribution. By establishing clear incident command structures, Maryann Walsh directly impacts the resilience of the company's global operations. Walsh secures the safety and continuity of critical business functions by coordinating cross-departmental efforts during operational emergencies. Through the rigorous testing of contingency plans, the Chief Operating Officer & Operations Office) Incident Chief & Manager maintains high levels of preparedness across all regional facilities. This focus on operational stability enables the organization to sustain its market leadership while effectively managing the complexities inherent in large-scale global dairy manufacturing and export activities.

    Bhavesh Morar - Director, Commercial & Chief Operating Officer (Nz Operations)

    Bhavesh Morar, the Director, Commercial & Chief Operating Officer (Nz Operations) at Fonterra, directs the domestic manufacturing and commercial activities within New Zealand. Overseeing the daily operations of local processing plants, the Director, Commercial & Chief Operating Officer (Nz Operations) ensures that production targets meet the rigorous quality standards required for global export. This leadership role involves managing local commercial relationships and optimizing the efficiency of the domestic supply chain. By aligning local production capabilities with international market demands, Bhavesh Morar directly impacts the overall success of the company's export strategy. Morar secures operational excellence by fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement among the local workforce. Through the integration of commercial insights into manufacturing processes, the Director, Commercial & Chief Operating Officer (Nz Operations) enhances the value proposition of the company's dairy products. This focus on domestic operational strength provides the foundation for the organization's global reach and market-leading position in the dairy science sector.

    Richard Todd - Technical To The Associate & Chief Operating Officer

    Richard Todd, the Technical To The Associate & Chief Operating Officer at Fonterra, directs the technical implementation of operational strategies across the manufacturing network. Overseeing the application of dairy science innovations in production environments, the Technical To The Associate & Chief Operating Officer ensures that technical processes remain at the forefront of industry standards. This leadership role involves bridging the gap between research and large-scale manufacturing to improve product quality and consistency. By providing technical guidance to operational teams, Richard Todd directly impacts the efficiency of the production cycle. Todd secures the technical integrity of the company's dairy portfolio by overseeing the deployment of advanced processing technologies. Through the coordination of technical resources, the Technical To The Associate & Chief Operating Officer supports the organization's commitment to innovation and excellence. This focus on technical precision enables the company to maintain its competitive edge in the global dairy market while delivering superior products to international consumers.
    Richard Todd

    Sapumal Thibbotuwawa - General Manager, Technical Capability & Chief Operating Officer

    Sapumal Thibbotuwawa, the General Manager, Technical Capability & Chief Operating Officer at Fonterra, directs the development of technical expertise and operational capabilities across the organization. Overseeing the training and upskilling of the workforce in advanced dairy manufacturing techniques, the General Manager, Technical Capability & Chief Operating Officer ensures that the company maintains a highly skilled and capable team. This leadership role involves identifying and implementing new technologies that enhance operational performance and product quality. By fostering a culture of technical excellence, Sapumal Thibbotuwawa directly impacts the company's ability to innovate and compete in the global market. Thibbotuwawa secures the future of the organization by building strong technical capabilities that support the company's long-term strategic goals. Through the management of technical resources, the General Manager, Technical Capability & Chief Operating Officer drives the continuous improvement of manufacturing processes. This focus on technical capability and operational excellence enables the company to remain a leader in the global dairy science and export industry.

    Scott Pyles - Chief Technology Officer

    Scott Pyles, the Chief Technology Officer at Fonterra, directs the digital transformation of dairy manufacturing processes. Overseeing the integration of advanced automation across production facilities, the Chief Technology Officer ensures that technical infrastructure supports high-volume output requirements. This leadership role involves architecting scalable cloud solutions to manage complex data streams from global supply chains. By optimizing research and development workflows, Scott Pyles directly impacts the speed of product innovation. Pyles secures long-term competitive advantages by aligning technical roadmaps with the broader corporate mission of delivering high-quality dairy products to international markets. Through the implementation of predictive maintenance systems, the Chief Technology Officer minimizes downtime and maximizes operational efficiency across all manufacturing sites. This strategic focus on technological advancement enables the organization to maintain a dominant position in the global dairy export sector while fostering continuous improvement in processing capabilities.

    Toby Granwal - Chief Information Officer

    Toby Granwal, the Chief Information Officer at Fonterra, manages the enterprise-wide information architecture and cybersecurity frameworks. Overseeing the secure flow of data across global operations, the Chief Information Officer ensures that information systems remain resilient against emerging digital threats. This leadership role involves standardizing data governance protocols to support informed decision-making within the dairy science and export divisions. By modernizing legacy software platforms, Toby Granwal directly impacts the agility of the entire organization. Granwal secures the integrity of sensitive commercial data while facilitating seamless communication between regional offices and the headquarters. Through the deployment of advanced analytics tools, the Chief Information Officer provides actionable insights that drive market expansion and operational efficiency. This focus on robust information management enables the company to leverage its vast data assets effectively, ensuring that all business units operate with high levels of transparency and technical reliability in a competitive global landscape.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Fonterra Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Fonterra?
    Fonterra is led by Brendon Connolly (Chief Financial Officer & Global Director, Commercial Markets Consumer Foodservice), along with executives such as Ronald Kumar (Global Chief Financial Officer, Markets Ingredients) and Carrie Hendriks (Head Chief Financial Officer, PC Office of The & Co-Operative Affairs).
    Who is part of Fonterra’s executive team?
    The executive team of Fonterra includes leaders such as Brendon Connolly (Chief Financial Officer & Global Director, Commercial Markets Consumer Foodservice), Ronald Kumar (Global Chief Financial Officer, Markets Ingredients), Carrie Hendriks (Head Chief Financial Officer, PC Office of The & Co-Operative Affairs) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Fonterra have?
    Fonterra has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Fonterra’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Fonterra includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer & Global Director, Commercial Markets Consumer Foodservice, Global Chief Financial Officer, Markets Ingredients, Head Chief Financial Officer, PC Office of The & Co-Operative Affairs, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Operating Officer & Operations Office) Incident Chief & Manager.