Ballance Agri-Nutrients has announced changes to its lead team that reinforce digitisation as core to the co-operative and the future competitiveness of New Zealand farming. 

Ballance Agri-Nutrients chief executive Mark Wynne says the creation of a new chief digital officer role reflects a strategy to become a truly customer-centric organisation, with digital at the heart.

Ballance was the first New Zealand organisation to go live with SAP S/4HANA in 2016, providing a foundation for the launch this year of the MyBallance customer experience platform that puts customers in control – providing real-time data and the capability to place and track nutrient plans and orders online 24/7, and with digital mapping the ability to report accurately on nutrient application on their farms.

“We’ve made tremendous progress on our digital journey over the past few years – using data and analytics within our business – and also in creating a truly outstanding experience for our customers. Our farmers are more connected than ever, and this about our business being future ready.”

Mark says current CIO Dave Scullin will join the Ballance executive as chief digital officer immediately. The role has responsibility for maintaining momentum for Ballance – “delivering a personalised service for our customers, real-time data to drive decision-making and more simplified business processes”.

Together with digital capability, Mark says the transformation of Ballance’s onshore supply chain is a major component of the strategic programme for the next three years.

To ensure a sharp focus on this investment and process improvement, the business is now separating the development of its New Zealand network under a new role, GM Onshore Supply Chain. Other supply chain functions – including Procurement, Supply and Shipping, S&OP – will be repositioned within the Finance function to accelerate and embed the efficiency gains achieved during the last 18 months.

Based on planned investment in new infrastructure during the next decade, Ballance has also established a new role of infrastructure engineering programme manager responsible for all infrastructure capital engineering projects across Supply Chain, Fertiliser Operations and the Kapuni manufacturing site. 

With the separation of the Supply Chain function, the role of GM Supply Chain has been disestablished. Mark says GM Supply Chain staff, Greg Delaney, has decided not to pursue a new role with Ballance, and will be leaving the company on May 31.

“We’re thankful for the contribution and legacy that Greg leaves from his 16 years in our business, across fertiliser operations, distribution and in helping ensure surety of supply for our farmers through the seasons and into the future.

Mark says a process for recruitment for the new roles will begin immediately.