New MPO CEO wants to ensure dairy farmers are heard

Gerhard Kriel (56) was recently appointed new CEO of the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO), and will take office on 3 January 2022.

New MPO CEO wants to ensure dairy farmers are heard
Newly-appointed CEO of the Milk Producers’ Organisation, Gerhard Kriel (fourth from left), and his family (from left): David Kriel, Jean Kriel, Annette Kriel, Aldurette Kriel and Richard Kriel.
Photo: Gerhard Kriel/Facebook
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Gerhard Kriel (56) was recently appointed new CEO of the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO), and will take office on 3 January 2022.

“I would like to make the South African dairy industry a force to be reckoned with, and we can only achieve this if the dairy farmer’s voice is heard in places where it matters,” Kriel told Farmer’s Weekly.

“Economics will be the main focus. The time has come that all role players [in the dairy value chain] work together to positively support each other.”

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In Kriel’s 30 years of experience, the agriculture sector had taught him that teamwork was very important, he said.

A press release by the MPO stated that Kriel developed a keen interest in food science in his early years, which led him to study dairy science under Prof Jan Novello at the University of the Free State. After this, he launched his career at Clover South Africa.

Kriel’s previous positions included that of general manager of trade at OVK Agriculture and CEO of Free State Agriculture. Kriel holds a bachelor’s degree in food science, dairy science, microbiology and biochemistry from the University of the Free State and a master’s degree in Business Leadership (MBL) from the University of South Africa.

Kriel has already moved to Pretoria, where his wife, Annette, and their daughter, Aldurette (a second-year student at the University of Pretoria) will join him in February.

Two of Kriel’s sons, David and Richard, are Blue Bull rugby players. Their third son, Jean, manages a restaurant in Bloemfontein.

Kriel succeeds Fanie Ferreira, the MPO’s acting CEO. Ferreira will continue to serve as chairperson of the MPO Northern Region and director of the MPO board.