Keytone Dairy, the New Zealand-based milk-powder maker, is shifting chief executive James Gong over to its wholly-owned subsidiary and promoting Danny Rotman to group CEO.
Gong will now head up Keytone Enterprises as CEO in New Zealand, while Rotman is moving from the same position at another fully-owned subsidiary, Omniblend, both with immediate effect, according to a statement today (10 September).
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Keytone has operations in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, and Christchurch in New Zealand. It acquired Omniblend in June, an Australia-based manufacturer of health and wellness milk powders and UHT dairy drinks, as part of a process to solidify its foothold in the fast-growing China market.
KeyDairy is Keytone’s main brand in the dairy segment, while KeyHealth and FaceClear are engaged in the health-supplement category.
Group chairman Peter James said: “Ensuring we have the right senior executive team to lead Keytone Dairy is a key strategic priority for the board and these changes lay the foundations for the future success of the company. Keytone Dairy is in an exciting growth phase and to have the calibre of executive in Danny Rotman now leading the company will be of significant advantage.
“Danny has extensive experience and a track record of growth in the sector and I am confident he will successfully drive Keytone Dairy and make a significant contribution as the company delivers for all shareholders.”
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By GlobalDataUnder Rotman’s leadership, Omniblend has grown into a business worth AUD32m (US$21.9m) in revenues last year and produces “high value and complex health and wellness dairy-based powders”. Like its Keytone Dairy parent, the company also offers a contract manufacturing service.
The statement continued: “Danny has a proven track record of identifying and commercialising product innovation in the sector, both for proprietary brands and third-party private-label clients. Through Danny’s leadership the Omniblend business has become a leading profitable Australian product developer and contract manufacturer of health and wellness products.”
Keytone Dairy posted a loss of AUD3.3m in the year to 31 March due to costs associated with its initial public share offering in Australia in the summer of last year. Sales climbed more than 23% to AUD2.5m.
