Prior to his tenure at Synlait, Mallard brought extensive experience from another dairy giant, Fonterra. He spent three years at Fonterra as General Manager of Sales and Marketing Disruption Business Unit Platforms, providing him with a deep understanding of the intricacies of the international dairy sector. This background made his contributions to Synlait particularly valuable during his time with the company, impacting both operational and strategic initiatives.

Richard Wyeth, Synlait’s new Chief Executive Officer, acknowledged Mallard’s substantial contributions to the company. Wyeth highlighted that Mallard effectively led multiple business functions and played a crucial role in advancing Synlait’s operational and strategic priorities. His efforts were particularly instrumental in optimizing the North Island network and enhancing the overall performance of the company’s value chain, key areas for dairy economics and efficiency.

Mallard is scheduled to officially depart Synlait in December, allowing for a planned transition period. In response to this upcoming vacancy, Synlait has already initiated a comprehensive search for a new Chief Operating Officer. The company’s proactive approach to finding a successor underscores the importance of the COO role in maintaining operational momentum and achieving future growth objectives within the competitive dairy market.