ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

PRESS RELEASE

15 December 2021

The Board and staff of the MPO are pleased to announce the appointment of Gerhard Kriel as chief executive of the MPO. We know you will join us in a warm welcome when Gerhard takes office on 3 January 2022. Gerhard developed a keen interest in food science in his early years, which led him to study dairy science with a full South African Dairy Foundation bursary under well-known dairy legend, Prof. Jan Novello at the University of the Free State and he started off his career at Clover South Africa.

With more than 30 years of business leadership experience, most of which has been within agricultural contexts, Gerhard brings a unique set of skills, perspectives, and relationships to lead the MPO into the future. Building on what we have already accomplished, under his leadership we hope to hone our strategic direction, grow and develop our organisation, strengthen our partnerships, and build new relationships.

Gerhard’s previous positions include general manager trade of OVK Agriculture; managing director of Kriel Technology Group, chief executive officer of Free State Agriculture, and independent consultant. He has collaborated with multiple national agricultural organisations and has worked with private, non-profit, and start-up businesses in more than four provinces in South Africa.

Gerhard holds a bachelor’s degree in food science, dairy science, microbiology, and biochemistry from the University of the Free State and a master’s degree in business leadership from the University of South Africa. He and his spouse, Annette, live in Bloemfontein where he mentors his children to become successful in following their dreams and become involved in the family business. They will be relocating to Pretoria early in the new year.

Gerhard succeeds Fanie Ferreira, acting chief executive, who will continue to serve as chairman of MPO Northern region and director of the MPO Board, and who will facilitate a smooth transition for Gerhard and provide support in the early days as required.

We are most grateful for the pivotal role that Fanie played over the past months to restructure the MPO, and for the unanimous endorsement of the MPO Board of the recommendation to appoint Gerhard as chief executive.

We are looking forward to beginning this new phase of the MPO’s work under Gerhard’s leadership.

Colin Wellbeloved

Chairman of the Board

Find the MPO online:

Website: www.mpo.co.za | Facebook: www.facebook.com/MilkProducersSA |Twitter: @MilkMpo

For more information

Colin Wellbeloved, chairman of the Board | melrosefarm@vodamail.co.za | Cell: 082 498 7838

Fanie Ferreira, acting chief executive | fanief@mpo.co.za | Cell: 083 453 9339

ISSUED BY AGRICONNECT

Written by Michelle de Lange

Photograph supplied by Fanie Ferreira