Fonterra Japan Announces Appointment of New Director
Fonterra Japan Co., Ltd. has appointed Steven O'Connor as a new director, effective March 31, 2026, to strengthen strategic leadership.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 19:00
Fonterra Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Ryuusei Kunimoto), the Japanese subsidiary of New Zealand's largest dairy cooperative, Fonterra, announced that Steven O'Connor was newly appointed as a director of the company at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on March 31, 2026. Furthermore, Richard Whiteman, who had previously served as a director, has resigned from his position.
### Name and Biography of the New Director
**Name:** Steven O'Connor
**Biography:**
Steven O'Connor joined Fonterra in November 2025 as the Finance Director for Global Ingredients. With over 20 years of international leadership experience across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, he possesses deep expertise in finance, strategy, business development, and transformation, having successfully led companies through periods of growth and change.
Prior to joining Fonterra, he was with Ampol, Australia's largest transport energy supplier and retailer (which owns Z Energy in New Zealand), where he served as Regional CFO (Fuels & Infrastructure) and COO (Trading & Shipping). In these roles, he spearheaded strategic formulation, business growth initiatives, and the advancement of operations within the company's global energy business.
Before that, he held senior positions in finance and sales at BlueScope and worked in PwC's M&A division, where he was engaged in advisory services for cross-border transactions and private equity investments.
**Date of Appointment:** March 31, 2026
### About Fonterra
Fonterra is a cooperative owned by several thousand dairy farming families based in New Zealand. With approximately 20,000 employees worldwide, it accounts for about 80% of the milk collection share in New Zealand. It is one of the world's largest dairy exporting companies, exporting a wide range of products including cheese, butter, milk powder, and milk proteins to over 100 countries. Fonterra Japan Co., Ltd. is its Japanese subsidiary, handling approximately 120,000 tons of dairy products annually.
**Fonterra Japan Co., Ltd.**
- Established: April 1982
- Representative: Representative Director and President Ryuusei Kunimoto
- Location: Taiyo Life Shinagawa Building, 2-16-2 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0075
- Products Handled: Natural cheese, butter, skim milk powder, casein, caseinate, whey protein, prepared edible fats, milk powder preparations, lactose, and other dairy products.
### Name and Biography of the New Director
**Name:** Steven O'Connor
**Biography:**
Steven O'Connor joined Fonterra in November 2025 as the Finance Director for Global Ingredients. With over 20 years of international leadership experience across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, he possesses deep expertise in finance, strategy, business development, and transformation, having successfully led companies through periods of growth and change.
Prior to joining Fonterra, he was with Ampol, Australia's largest transport energy supplier and retailer (which owns Z Energy in New Zealand), where he served as Regional CFO (Fuels & Infrastructure) and COO (Trading & Shipping). In these roles, he spearheaded strategic formulation, business growth initiatives, and the advancement of operations within the company's global energy business.
Before that, he held senior positions in finance and sales at BlueScope and worked in PwC's M&A division, where he was engaged in advisory services for cross-border transactions and private equity investments.
**Date of Appointment:** March 31, 2026
### About Fonterra
Fonterra is a cooperative owned by several thousand dairy farming families based in New Zealand. With approximately 20,000 employees worldwide, it accounts for about 80% of the milk collection share in New Zealand. It is one of the world's largest dairy exporting companies, exporting a wide range of products including cheese, butter, milk powder, and milk proteins to over 100 countries. Fonterra Japan Co., Ltd. is its Japanese subsidiary, handling approximately 120,000 tons of dairy products annually.
**Fonterra Japan Co., Ltd.**
- Established: April 1982
- Representative: Representative Director and President Ryuusei Kunimoto
- Location: Taiyo Life Shinagawa Building, 2-16-2 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0075
- Products Handled: Natural cheese, butter, skim milk powder, casein, caseinate, whey protein, prepared edible fats, milk powder preparations, lactose, and other dairy products.
FAQ
What are Steven O'Connor's primary areas of expertise?
He is an expert with over 20 years of rich experience in finance, strategy, business development, and corporate transformation.
What is the purpose of this appointment?
The goal is to bring expertise from global ingredients business to the Japanese entity to drive strategic planning and operational excellence during growth and transformation phases.
What role does Fonterra Japan play?
As the Japanese subsidiary of New Zealand's Fonterra, the world's largest dairy exporter, it handles approximately 120,000 tons of dairy ingredients annually.