A life of fun behind the serious public face
Wilson acted in other ways to protect farmers’ interests. When the milk price went from a high of $8.40 a kilogram of milksolids in 2013-14 to $3.90 in 2015-16, and heavily indebted farmers were staring down the barrel of bankruptcy, Fonterra lent $383 million to 76 per cent of its farmer/ shareholders to keep them afloat.
It was his commitment to farmers that helped push the loan proposal through the board.
Leading New Zealand’s largest company – although Wilson was always adamant it should be referred to as a co-op – brought with it occasional intense media and political scrutiny.
His chairmanship coincided with the tenure of Theo Spierings as chief executive, who was frequently the subject of public ire for the generous salary he was paid – considered excessive by New Zealand standards.
His final year was marked by the first Fonterra loss, largely due to the troubled Beingmate investment and a payment to Danone over the false botulism scare.
Petersen, who is New Zealand’s agricultural trade envoy, says when Wilson was part of overseas trade missions, he was always careful to remove his Fonterra hat and argue for the general good of the dairy industry.
‘‘He was a New Zealander first and foremost in those international forums where we were looking for a better deal for farmers.’’
Petersen believes that if illness had not cut his life short, Wilson would have happily gone back to the farm and would have focused on the farm and family.
Besides his Fonterra governance, Wilson was also chairman of Milktest NZ, and a director of T&G Global, Rangitata South Irrigation and the Hugh Green Group of Companies.
He is survived by his wife, Belinda, and four daughters. – By Gerard Hutching