29 January 2009: An 80 strong crowd of Auckland's top business leaders came together over breakfast this morning, to hear Andrew Ferrier, Chief Executive Officer of Fonterra Co-operative Group, kick off the first Simpson Grierson 'Insights' Speaker Series event for 2009.

Andrew's choice of topic was 'the challenges and opportunities that exist in the global market place today' – something Fonterra Co-operative Group is more than familiar with as the world's leading exporter of dairy products to some 140 countries. His address covered three key topics: funding a business in an economic downturn; the impact of this downturn of soft and hard commodities; and the implications of being a global business. Andrew rounded off an informative and honest insight into Fonterra Co-operative Group's strategy and current high profile in the media by generously taking questions from the audience.

With more than 22 year's experience at senior executive level - including 14 as CEO,  Andrew Ferrier has a background in generating stronger performances from companies in both the consumer products sector and commodities market. He has dealt continuously with free trade environments and heavily regulated environments in his career - experience he is now applying at Fonterra Co-operative Group. Andrew also sits on the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board (GIAB), which provides high-level, independent advice to the New Zealand Government on growth and innovation issues.