Mike Siermens, Federated Farmers CEO, Hamilton, Friday 5 December 2025. Photo: Stephen Barker / Barker Photography. ©Federated Farmers NZ
Mike Siermans isn’t just stepping into a role – he’s stepping into a legacy.
After months as interim chief executive at Federated Farmers, he’s now officially at the helm.
Mike Siermens, Federated Farmers CEO, Hamilton, Photo: Stephen Barker
His vision is bold: modernise, grow, and make the voice of farming louder than ever.
“Federated Farmers has always been the true voice of farming in New Zealand – I want to make that voice even stronger,” says Siermans.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford calls the appointment a game-changer.
“We ran a thorough search with many strong candidates, but Mike stood out,” Langford says.
“He brings a rare mix of leadership and commercial acumen that will help us deliver on our ambitious growth strategy.”
That strategy is already paying off: membership numbers are climbing for the first time in a generation, and the organisation has chalked up a string of policy wins.
Now Siermans is tasked with building on that momentum.
“Strong advocacy needs to be backed by sharp commercial nous – and Mike gets that,” says Langford.
Before joining Federated Farmers, Siermans carved out a career across fast-moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and technology, holding senior roles at Douglas Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Animal Health and Taura Natural Ingredients.
He says that experience will shape his approach to leading one of New Zealand’s most influential rural organisations.
“My job is to make sure we’ve got the right strategy, team and culture to succeed for the next 125 years,” Siermans says.
“That means modernising operations, creating sustainable revenue streams and expanding products and services.
“We’ll keep employing the best advocates, communicators and policy experts – because farmers deserve results.”
Siermans lives in Tauranga with his wife and has three adult children.
As he steps into the role permanently, his focus is clear: building a future-ready organisation that continues to deliver real results for Kiwi farmers.
From boardrooms to barnyards, Mike Siermans is bringing fresh energy to Federated Farmers – determined to ensure Kiwi farmers’ voices are heard. Photo: Stephen Barker
