Who we are
We’re 1000 down-to-earth, authentic people working together with 280+ milk suppliers to create the very best in milk nutrition for our global customers. Our disruptive, innovative spirit combined with resolute determination to do the right thing for
planet and people sets us apart.
Our People
Meet the team behind Synlait
Simon Robertson
Independent Chair
Simon was appointed to the Synlait Board in November 2020 and elected as Chair in December 2022
He is a professional director with extensive commercial experience, including 10 years with Auckland International Airport (AIAL) during a period of significant investment and strategic growth. As CFO for AIAL, he led the finance, accounting, business technology and procurement functions along with investor relations and regulatory affairs. Simon has a proven track-record in strategy and capital-intensive infrastructure investment. He is also a Director of Ballance, Alliance Group, and previously served on the boards of Independent Timber Merchants, Apata Group, Flick Energy and North Queensland Airports.
Grant Watson
CEO
Grant joined Synlait as CEO in January 2022. He was previously CEO of dairy company, Miraka. Prior to Miraka, Grant spent 10 years at Fonterra where he held several senior roles including Director of Global Foodservice, Managing Director of Tip Top, and Director of Route and Foodservice Fonterra Brands New Zealand. Prior to Fonterra, Grant built his executive career at McDonalds New Zealand to become Chief Operating Officer. He has also held several governance and directorship roles for private and publicly listed companies.
Robert Stowell
CFO
Robert joined Synlait in 2007. He held several senior roles in the finance, business transformation and supply chain teams before being appointed General Manager, Supply Chain in 2017. He took on the role of CFO in May 2021. Prior to joining Synlait, Robert held senior finance positions in New Zealand and the UK at Duns Limited, Transport for London, PlaneStation Group, Royal Sun Alliance, and Liberty Syndicates. Robert was the recipient of a Prime Ministers scholarship in 2017 to study the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD in France and is a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Robert also holds a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and a Graduate Diploma in finance from the University of Otago.
Our History
Synlait was founded to ensure that global consumers were able to access some of the best that New Zealand dairying had to offer. It’s all about partnering people who are passionate about business excellence, integrity and quality of product, with top quality milk and farming practices. That’s where the name Synlait comes from – Synergy and Milk.
The beginning
2000
Our first farm was purchased and the Synlait dream began. Robindale Farm quickly grew to a 3,000 cow dairy farm and remains Synlait’s largest supplying farm to this day.
Manufacturing starts
2008
The first milk was processed on the 8 August 2008 in our brand new manufacturing plant.
Expansion
2017
We acquired the Auckland-based New Zealand Dairy Company in May 2017 and commissioned a second state-of-the-art blending and consumer packaging facility there in November.