Former aviation executive Jayne Hrdlicka departs as A2 Milk chief executive
The chief of A2 Milk — one of New Zealand’s biggest companies — has departed as boss, setting the stock market aflutter.
HIGH-flying chief executive of A2 Milk Company, Jayne Hrdlicka, has abruptly resigned less than two years into the role.
A former Jetstar chief executive, Ms Hrdlicka will be replaced in the short term by interim chief executive Geoff Babidge until a permanent replacement is named in the new year.
In a statement, Ms Hrdlicka said the pressures of frequent flights was a factor in choosing to step down from the top job.
“The reality however is that the next three to five years will continue to require the CEO being present in our core markets of China and the US and that combined with running a New Zealand company based in Australia required more travel than I had anticipated when I joined the company,” the outgoing chief said.
“The board and I agreed that this next phase is going to be too difficult to manage alongside my other commitments whilst also managing the health and wellness priorities of my family and me.”
A Trans-Tasman listed company, A2 Milk shares in Australia opened at $13.92 at 10am today and were trading at $13.75 as of 11am.
The market value of A2 Milk stands at $10.7 billion, a drop of nearly a billion dollars from $11.63 billion on Friday.
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