Synlait Milk's chief executive has resigned after two years and nine months in the job

Grant Watson has seen the dairy processor through a series of measures to boost its balance sheet, including the recent million-dollar capital injection by China's Bright Dairy.

Chair George Adams says Synlait's recently had a long list of urgent challenges - and Grant's ably led the team through them.

Dairyworks CEO Tim Carter has been appointed acting CEO and the board will commence a global recruitment process.