He will be replacing outgoing Elders chief Mark Allison in October.
Mr Dedoncker has worked with Fonterra for 20 years, and most recently has been managing director of the Mainland Group business since March 2025.
He has played a key role in Fonterra’s Australian dairy division.
Prior to his Mainland Group role, Mr Dedoncker was a member of the Fonterra management team as managing director Global Consumer and Foodservice.
Mr Dedoncker has also led Fonterra’s Australian business, including through its merger with Fonterra Brands New Zealand to form Fonterra Oceania, and has held global leadership roles within Fonterra’s Foodservice business.
Mr Dedoncker has a six-month notice period and has indicated his willingness to continue leading Mainland Group through the completion of the divestment transaction and transition to Lactalis ownership.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell thanked Mr Dedoncker for his significant contribution to Fonterra, particularly through the process to divest Mainland Group.
Elders chair Glenn Davis said Mr Dedoncker brought deep agricultural roots and outstanding leadership experience to Elders.
“He has proven expertise from his years with Fonterra and Mars, where he drove operational excellence and strategic growth on a global scale,” he said.
“The board has great confidence in his ability to lead Elders into its next phase of success.
“He understands the importance of our regional network and customer relationships, and he has a demonstrated ability to drive growth and operational performance while upholding the values and heritage of an organisation.”
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