Richard Allen Appointed as CEO of Fonterra Effective May 2026

Fonterra, a leading New Zealand dairy cooperative, has appointed Richard Allen as its next chief executive officer, effective May 1, 2026. The announcement comes as part of a planned leadership transition, with the current CEO, Miles Hurrell, set to assume an advisory role until September 2026.

Peter McBride, Fonterra's chair, expressed confidence in Allen's leadership capabilities, citing his strong connections with farmer shareholders and customers. McBride highlighted Allen's extensive experience within the cooperative, emphasizing his previous roles, including President of Global Ingredients and head of Fonterra's farmer-facing business, Farm Source.

Allen's career at Fonterra began in 2008, and he has since held various significant positions, including Vice President of the Foodservice business in China and President Atlantic based in Chicago.

In his statement, Allen conveyed his commitment to maintaining the cooperative's performance momentum and strategic direction established in recent years. He also expressed enthusiasm about Fonterra's future as a global B2B dairy provider.

Fonterra, known for its substantial role in New Zealand's dairy industry, continues to focus on optimizing its global supply chain and strengthening relationships with key accounts worldwide.