Turnbull brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the dairy and food sectors, with his most recent role as CEO of Manuka Health where he led a successful business turnaround, boosting profitability and operational performance. Before that, he held senior executive and board positions at Fonterra, including serving as Managing Director for Latin America, giving him deep sector experience across ingredients, nutrition and global brands.

Yili’s leadership emphasized that Turnbull’s appointment aligns with the group’s high-value strategy and its efforts to expand global sales from New Zealand operations. According to Yili executives, demand in several high-value categories such as dairy proteins and fats continues to outstrip supply, underlining the strategic importance of strong leadership at the helm of Yili’s New Zealand platforms.

For the international dairy community, Turnbull’s elevation signals Yili’s commitment to deepening farmer and customer relationships while strengthening the competitive performance of its New Zealand subsidiaries. These companies are integral nodes in Yili’s global value chain — processing and exporting milk powders, infant formula bases, and other dairy derivatives to major markets, particularly in Asia.