Elders Limited has announced René Dedoncker as its next chief executive – starting October 1.

Current managing director and chief executive Mark Allison will continue to lead the company until then.

René joins Elders after nearly two decades at Fonterra Group, where he held multiple senior executive roles, most recently serving as head of its Mainland Group.

He previously held senior management positions at Mars Corporation.

Elders chair Glenn Davis says the board is confident the appointment will drive Elders’ capacity to create value for shareholders, customers and communities.

“He brings deep agricultural roots and outstanding leadership experience to Elders and his proven expertise at Fonterra and Mars has seen him drive operational excellence and strategic growth on a global scale,” Glenn says.

“The board has great confidence in his ability to lead Elders into its next phase of success,” he says.

“René’s strong strategic acumen, operational discipline and genuine passion for agriculture make him an excellent choice to lead Elders.

“He understands the importance of our regional network and client relationships and has a demonstrated ability to drive growth and operational performance while upholding Elders’ values and heritage.”