Aidan Coleman — CEO of Bega Cheese Limited — Talks the Australian Dairy Industry, Keeping Business Simple and Being a Mad All Blacks Fan
Aidan Coleman is the CEO of Bega Cheese Limited, an ASX 200 listed company based in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia. Steeped in heritage, Bega is focused on infant nutrition, cheese production and general dairy commodity products, and has a revenue of approximately $1.2 billion. Aidan joined the company as CEO prior to its IPO on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2011. He is an experienced senior executive and company leader with an extensive background in leading mergers and integrations, as well as strategic developments in both consumer and industrial dairy businesses internationally. His career has taken him to Japan, Asia, Indian Sub-Continent, Oceania and Latin America.
Aidan grew up on a dairy farm in New Zealand the youngest of four boys. Upon completing school, his love of animals saw a young Aidan begin a degree in vet science at Massey University, before he decided he was more fitted to a bachelor of economics and psychology at the University of Auckland. Aidan later returned to Massey, where he achieved a Bachelor of Business in marketing and finance. After beginning his career in metal manufacturing, Aidan moved into the dairy industry and has previously worked for Fonterra Brands Australia and as the former CEO and now Director of Tatura Milk Industries Limited. Aidan is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
He is a proud and passionate supporter of the All Blacks rugby union team and lives in Melbourne with his wife and three sons. He is due to retire from his role as CEO of Bega Cheese Limited in 2017.