Synlait have announced the appointment of Richard Hickson to the role of Chief Operating Officer

Synlait Milk Limited have announced the appointment of Richard Hickson as Chief Operating Officer following an executive search process by Baxter Executive Search.

Richard brings over 20 years of leadership experience in manufacturing operations across the global dairy and infant nutrition sectors. His career has spanned the Middle East, New Zealand, and The Netherlands, reflecting a deep understanding of international markets and operational excellence.

He is currently CEO of AusNutria B.V. in the Netherlands. Prior to this, Richard held senior leadership roles at several major dairy organisations, including Chief Operating Officer at Westland Milk Products and General Manager at Oceania Dairy Limited. Earlier in his career, he also held key positions at Fonterra and PepsiCo.

Richard will join Synlait in February 2026.