Mark Crawford and Jason Miller
- now directors of Alliance Group Ltd -

Jason Miller

Jason, 42, farms with his wife Jocelyn and three children in a family partnership based around a 620ha property in Eastern Southland, and a 3450ha block in Northern Southland.

As an extension to his studies at Lincoln University (graduated 1986) Jason continued to develop his business skills in agriculture by completing a post-graduate course with the University of Minnesota (USA). Upon returning to NZ he managed the Mt Linton Station finishing farm "Waitoru."

A member of the Otago-Southland Sheep Council for six years - the last two as Chairman, Jason is currently studying to become a Kellogg Scholar (Lincoln University) with his chosen topic of study being the current meat co-operative marketing model and exploration of new ideas.

Included in his work, Jason is extensively researching innovative and world-leading marketing strategies which is an area identified as key to bringing sustainability and profit back to Alliance shareholders. With 90% of his family income derived from sheepfarming, he is reliant on this industry and is committed to bringing positive change, growth and profit back to Alliance Group and shareholders.

Motivated by the desire to make a difference in the meat industry, Jason has been part of the Meat Industry Action Group spending much of this year meeting and consulting with industry leaders, politicians and farmers.

Community Involvement:

• Past Chairman Otago/Southland Sheep
  Council
• Past Board of Trustee (6 years) – Te Tipua
   School

To contact Jason

phone:

03 230 6142 or
021 977 926 or
email him

Voting Papers are in mailboxes from 28 November.

So, remember,

"It takes two ticks for positive change."

Mark Crawford
Jason Miller

 


Jason Miller (left) and Mark Crawford (right)

WHAT'S NEW

-- 'Old blazers' must go

-- Challenge for industry

-- Issues/news - Farmnews

Message to Farmers:

18 December 2007 -- Mark and Jason would like to thank all their supporters and the hard working men and women who phoned and canvassed on their behalf - "it was very humbling and an honour to become a director of Alliance Group Ltd."

Both Jason and Mark will be working very hard on behalf of all Alliance shareholders, management and staff to be effective directors, who can earn your respect.

They would like to acknowledge the passion, hard work and dedication that John Turner, over 20 years, and Murray Taggart more recently have put into the Alliance company.

This election was not about personalities, rather the results showed a desperate need for urgent change to the current model our industry operates under and questioned how we restructure our business to acheive sustainable higher returns for our products under this high dollar environment we now live in.

Alliance is a great company with a solid foundation and is in a good position to help lead and initiate industry change and consolidation.

There needs to be a healing process to rebuild relationships and support after this election.

We now have to all get in behind Alliance and be part of the team that achieves the goal of a $100 lamb.

Thank you once again and I wish you all a happy and relaxing Xmas break.

- Mark Crawford and Jason Miller


Post-election Message:

16 December 2007 -- Mark and Jason were both elected onto the Alliance Board of Directors on December 14, 2007.

They would like to thank all the people who helped achieve this result.

"This required a huge team effort from supporters from Canterbury to Southland and was a remarkable achievement against a much bigger and better resourced opponent."

Ironically few thought it could be done, other than those directly involved.

This outstanding effort by farmers to make their vote count has delivered a very strong message to Alliance and the wider industry indicating that farmers believe change must occur.

"If farmers are united and committed all things are possible."

- Mark Crawford and Jason Miller


Pre-election Message:

Alliance has been a very good processing Company but we now have to look at new innovative ways of adding value to our premium products. The focus has to be on marketing, rather than throughput.

We need a robust supply chain from producer to consumer and for that to be effective, we need to understand our consumers, their lifestyles, buying patterns and tastes. We need optimisation at every stage of the supply chain and if anybody is not adding value, then we must replace them.

This election is not about whether our two big co-operatives should have merged. The merger between Alliance and PPCS was just one of the options being looked at during the PWC investigation. As we haven't been privy to the contents of the report, we have to respect the Alliance Directors' decision. However, this doesn't excuse the poor returns farmers have been receiving.

Shareholders need to ask themselves: Do we have confidence in the Board and management of Alliance to change the current model, to write and communicate a strategic plan and show bold leadership in carrying out initiatives to increase returns to shareholders?

In the past, its been too easy to blame everybody else for poor lamb returns, i.e. the high dollar, the management and monitoring of quota, the Commerce Commission, industrial action, the Aussie drought and other companies underselling in the marketplace.

Shareholders are increasingly told these hurdles are beyond Alliance Group's control while our best and brightest young farmers leave the industry and our best finishing country is lost.

We don't see any of the hurdles, of present, as unmanageable. We relish these as challenges to overcome.

The situation is urgent and farmer apathy in the Alliance Group Board of Director elections is not an option! As producers of world-class protein, all our livelihoods are at stake!

- Mark Crawford & Jason Miller

Mark Crawford

Mark, 47, farms a 215ha intensive sheep and beef property at Aparima, Southland, with his wife Mandy and two children.

A Lincoln University graduate, Mark became a Kellogg's Scholar in 2005.

Mark has long-held an interest in marketing and global consumer demands so became a Food & Agribusiness Marketing Experience participant last year.

FAME has a focus on developing leadership talent and capabilities in the food and agribusiness sectors, for tomorrow's global markets. It is a unique experience for emerging leaders to develop their knowledge from both within NZ and abroad.

During the course of his study, Mark travelled to the US, Europe, China and Japan investigating production, processing and retail sites.

Much of Mark's study, including travel, has been self-funded.

While Chairman of the Meat Industry Action Group, Mark travelled extensively within NZ meeting with meat industry executives, politicians and our farmers.

Mark is passionate about the industry and believes in the principles of a strong, farmer-owned co-operative that is market, and not procurement, driven.

He has a sound understanding of the present situation facing sheepfarmers and is committed to serving the interest of Alliance Group shareholders.

Community Involvement:

• Past Chairman Meat Industry Action
  Group
• Chairman Otautau Community Health
  Trust
• Deputy Chairman Takitimu PHO
• Past Director Otautau Saleyards
• Past President Otautau Lions Club

To contact Mark

phone:

03 225 8755 or
027 225 8755 or
email him


Mark and Jason
endorsed by the
Meat Industry Action Group

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