Managing Director, Brownes Foods Operations Pty Ltd
Dairy West
Perth, Australia
With sales of $220m a year, Brownes is the largest and oldest Western Australian dairy products company with brands including Brownes, Chill, Kick, West n Fresh and Yogo, distributed through the retail, petrol and convenience, education, HORECA, catering, foodservice, general route and export channels. The company also supplies bulk milks solids to other manufacturers. Accountable for the operational and financial performance of the business through 300 staff, 4,000 customers, 80 distributors, 63 farmers and two operating sites. Manage the company’s Sales, Marketing, Finance, Manufacturing, Logistics, HR, R&D and IT functions. Develop and report to the Board on performance against budget, optimise profitability, cash flow and the balance sheet, develop and execute capital expenditure plans. Oversee the establishment of the processes and resources needed to enable the business to operate and report as an autonomous entity. Following Fonterra’s divestment of the business, have formulated and implemented the initial phases of a three-year strategic agenda with a primary focus on cost out across the whole P&L, with specific emphasis on W&D, procurement and manufacturing waste. The loss of the Coles Private Label contract in October 2011 re-focused the business on cost and price realisation, rather than market development. Managed Brownes branded white milk position within retail following the market pricing restructure. Tailored the company’s approach for Coles, Woolworths and IGA, with growth achieved across all three accounts. Branded share leadership achieved in Woolworths. Developed and implemented the ‘Brownes Home Truths’ positioning with consumers.