ROSEMONT, Ill., July 31 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Dairy Platform (GDP), a pre-competitive collaboration of dairy sector organizations focused on encouraging the appropriate intake of nutrient-rich dairy foods and demonstrating the sector’s role in sustainable agriculture, today announced the addition of Mr. Minfang (Jeffery) Lu, Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, to GDP’s Board of Directors.
 
“We are delighted to welcome Jeffery Lu to our already strong Board. To attract a person with his background and Mengniu’s legacy of success to our collaboration is a testament to the vast opportunities we see GDP has to promote dairy’s contribution to better nutrition, empowering communities and sustainable agriculture,” said Mr. Theo Spierings, GDP Board Chair and Fonterra Chief Executive Officer.
 
“I am very excited to join the GDP Board of Directors. The dairy sector has a critical role in providing solutions to global health and development challenges,” stated Mr. Lu, “I look forward to contributing towards the success of GDP’s mission to align and support the dairy industry in promoting sustainable dairy nutrition.”
 
Mr. Lu was appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited in 2016.  A member of GDP since 2013, China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited was GDP’s first member from China. The company is based in Inner Mongolia and is one of the leading dairy product manufacturers in China, with a diverse product range including UHT milk, milk beverages and yogurt, ice cream, and other dairy products such as milk powder and cheese.
 
Mr. Lu will serve on the board along with Mr. Spierings, Royal FrieslandCampina Chief Executive Officer Mr. Hein Schumacher, Dairy Farmers of America President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Rick Smith, and Arla Foods Chief Executive Officer Mr. Peder Tuborgh.
 
Additional governance members are Dr. Margrethe Jonkman, Deputy Chair of the GDP Board and Chair of the Operational Committee, Corporate Director Research & Development, Royal FrieslandCampina; Dr. Judith Bryans, President, International Dairy Federation; Mr. Miles Hurrell, Chief Operating Officer-Farm Source, Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited; Mr. Jerry Kaminski, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, International, Land O'Lakes, Inc.; Ms. Hanne Sondergaard, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Innovation, Arla Foods amba; Mr. Jay Waldvogel, Senior Vice President of Strategy and International Development, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
 
About Global Dairy Platform

Established in 2006, GLOBAL DAIRY PLATFORM’s membership of dairy companies, associations, scientific bodies and other partners collaborate pre-competitively to promote the necessary intake of nutrient-rich dairy products, build evidence on dairy’s role in the diet, and show the sector’s commitment to responsible and sustainable food production. Together, the collaboration aims to demonstrate dairy’s contribution to global food systems, healthy diets, and sustainable livelihoods.  Visit www.globaldairyplatform.com for more information.
 
Media Contacts: 
GDP
Mr. Jerreau Beaudoin
+1 847 627 3387
Jerreau.beaudoin@globaldairyplatform.com
 
MENGNIU
Mr. Xiaodong, Ji
+86 186 1168 9793
jixiaodong@mengniu.cn
 
SOURCE: Global Dairy Platform
 
--BERNAMA