management team

Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 

A graduate of Concordia University with a B.A. in Political Science, Lino Saputo, Jr. joined Saputo in 1988 as an Administrative Assistant. Over the next few years, he started rising through the ranks, managing a plant in Ontario and holding various administrative and marketing positions. In 1993, he became Vice President, Operations, and in 1998, Executive Vice President, Operations. From July 2001 to January 2004, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company’s Dairy Products Division (USA). Since March 2004, Lino Saputo, Jr. serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In 2011, he was appointed to the position of Vice Chair of the Board, and since August 2017, he serves as Chair of the Board. In 2019, he was recognized as Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year. 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Maxime Therrien graduated from the Université du Québec à Montréal in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance. He obtained his CPA certification from the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec in 1994. Since joining Saputo as a Financial Analyst in 1996, he has held several management positions at the corporate and divisional level. Maxime Therrien was named Corporate Controller in 1997 and in 2003, he assumed the position of Vice President, Accounting and Administration of the Dairy Division (Canada). In 2012, he was appointed Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration of Operations for Saputo Inc., and in 2015, he was named Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration. Since August 2017, Maxime Therrien serves as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company.

Chief Human Resources Officer

Gaétane Wagner graduated from the Université de Montréal in 1980 with a B.A. in Industrial Relations. She joined Saputo in October 2007 as Senior Vice President, Human Resources of the Cheese Division (USA). In 2009, she was named Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Dairy Products Division (Canada) and in 2011, Executive Vice President, Human Resources. Since 2015, Gaétane Wagner serves as Chief Human Resources Officer of the Company.   

Chief Acquisition and Strategic Development Officer

Martin Gagnon graduated from the Université de Montréal with a Bachelor and a Master of Laws in 1995. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Western University’s Ivey Business School. Martin joined Saputo in 2016 as Executive Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions, leading Saputo’s mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and strategic development initiatives on a global scale. In April 2019, he was appointed as Chief Acquisition and Strategic Development Officer.

President and Chief Operating Officer,
Saputo Inc. and International Sector

Kai Bockmann holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University. He joined the Company in January 2012 as President and Chief Operating Officer of the International Sector. In 2015, his responsibilities grew to include the Dairy Division (Australia) as it became part of the International Sector. In April 2017, he was appointed to President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and continues to act as President and Chief Operating Officer for the International Sector.

President and Chief Operating Officer,
(North America) and by interim Dairy Foods Division (USA)

Carl Colizza holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from McGill University. Since joining Saputo in 1998 as an engineer, he has held several senior management positions in the Dairy Division (Canada). In 2002, he was appointed to the position of Director, Engineering and in 2007, he became Vice President of Engineering and Environmental Affairs. In 2009, he was named Senior Vice President, Operations and, in 2014, Senior Vice President, Business Development. In 2015, he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of the Dairy Division (Canada), and in 2018, he also led the Dairy Division (Argentina). In 2019, he was named President and Chief Operating Officer (North America). Since April 2020, he also leads the Dairy Foods Division (USA) on an interim basis.

President and Chief Operating Officer, 
Dairy Division (UK) 

Tom Atherton graduated from Birmingham University in the UK in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in Money, Banking and Finance. He became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1995 and held a number of senior finance positions in listed and private equity backed UK businesses before joining Dairy Crest Group plc in 2005. In 2013 he was appointed Group Finance Director and became a member of the Board of Dairy Crest Group plc. In 2016 he was appointed Chairman of the Frylight business within the Dairy Crest Group and in 2018 became Dairy Crest Deputy CEO. Following the acquisition of Dairy Crest by Saputo in April 2019, he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of the Dairy Division (UK).

President and Chief Operating Officer,
Cheese Division (USA) 

Terry Brockman graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1992 with a B.A. in Public Administration and Political Science. He joined Saputo in 1997 as Human Resources Manager. In 1999, he became Regional Human Resources Manager, and in 2000 was named Director, Human Resources Operations. Mr. Brockman was appointed Vice President, Human Resources, Cheese Division (USA) in 2001. Since April 2006, he serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Cheese Division (USA). 

President and Chief Operating Officer,
Dairy Division (Canada)

Over the last 25 years Frank has held senior management positions in finance, continuous improvement, operations and supply chain at several public companies in the consumer packaged goods industry. As an alumnus of York University, he also holds certificates in Leadership Development and Six Sigma. He joined Saputo in 2015 as Senior Vice President, Supply Chain in the Dairy Division (Canada). In May 2017, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Operations, Supply Chain and Continuous Improvement. Since April 2019, Frank serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Dairy Division (Canada).

President and Chief Operating Officer,
Dairy Division (Australia)
 
Richard holds an Associate Diploma of Applied Science in Dairy from the Victorian College of Agriculture & Horticulture and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Queensland. In 1996, he joined Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company Holdings Limited (WCB) where he held a number of key management positions. In 2015, he was appointed Senior Vice President & General Manager, Dairy Division (Australia) following the acquisition of WCB by Saputo. In 2018, following the acquisition of the activities of Murray Goulburn Co-Operative Co. Limited by Saputo, he was named Senior Vice President & General Manager of Operations for the expanded Dairy Division (Australia). Since April 2020, Richard serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Dairy Division (Australia).