Our Team

The Spring Sheep Team
Thomas Macdonald
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Thomas Macdonald is Chief Executive Officer of Spring Sheep Milk Company. He leads the business with a clear focus on growing our premium sheep-milk product portfolio with international consumers. Thomas has strong experience across dairy operations, supply-chain, and international market partnerships. He works closely with our farmer-suppliers, customers, and shareholders to deliver value through high-quality products and strong relationships across the value chain.
James Horrocks
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
James brings extensive experience in business finance for Google's partnerships division in Europe/Africa and advising on capital allocation. With a background in investment banking and successful mergers and acquisitions, he is a Chartered Accountant holding an MBA with Distinction from Oxford, where he was a Saïd Foundation Scholar.
Dr. Peter Jin
GENERAL MANAGER - CHINA
With over 17 years of experience in the dairy industry, Dr. Peter Jin has worked with leading New Zealand dairy companies in China. He specializes in sales, R&D, and developing major partnerships. Holding a PHD in lactoferrin, he has played a pivotal role in expanding our presence in the Chinese market.
Natalie Macbeth
HEAD OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL
Natalie, with a background in Food Science, has over 20 years of experience in the industry, focusing on new product development at renowned food manufacturers. She excels in formulating, trialing, and registering new products made with sheep milk, and is highly regarded in the New Zealand food and dairy science community.
Joseph Highet
COMMERCIAL MANAGER
Joseph has built a career in the dairy industry, working across major New Zealand processors in various commercial roles. With extensive experience in interacting with the farming community and managing the milk price review process for the Commerce Commission, he enjoys a great reputation in the industry.
The Spring Sheep Board
Scottie Chapman
CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Scottie is passionate about designing and implementing international sales strategies. With 15 years of offshore experience, he has successfully taken NZ brands worldwide. Scottie also serves as a Director of SLC, expanding his influence in the industry.
Michael Ahie
CHAIRMAN
Of Taranaki, Ngā Ruahine and Ngāti Ruanui descent Michael is dedicated to helping create the commercial and cultural success stories that help New Zealand organisations thrive. Nimbly straddling a number of high profile roles in academia and the public and private sector, Michael lists Chancellor of Massey University, Chair of Plant & Food Research and the Inland Revenue Risk & Assurance Committee amongst his responsibilities.
Mark Leslie
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTOR
Mark has 25 years of experience in the Agricultural Industry including roles in operations, logistics, technology and product development, and quality assurance. Mark has spent nearly two decades at one of New Zealand’s largest dairy brands as head of the operations and supply chain and more recently in the meat industry before joining Pāmu as CEO.
Nigel Atherfold
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTOR
Nigel has over 25 years of experience in finance, covering corporate finance, treasury risk management and banking. He is a director and shareholder of a corporate finance and economics advisory company, a director of two farming companies that have dairy, arable, and sheep and beef assets and is on several dairy advisory boards.
Jillian Laing
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTOR
Jillian has more than three decades of marketing and business development experience spanning a broad range of roles across the global food industry, including the dairy industry. Jillian is currently the founding CEO of the World Macadamia Organisation, a marketing fund established by the major growing countries to stimulate demand for macadamias as a mindful wholefood.
Greg Muir
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTOR
Greg is a Chairman of SLC Ventures and former CEO of The Warehouse Group and Tru-Test Ltd, among other senior leadership roles.