Inghams Group Limited has announced that current Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Andrew Reeves would retire from the role in mid-2025. Following a comprehensive global search that included internal candidates, the Board has endorsed the current Chief Executive of its New Zealand business, Edward Alexander, as his replacement.
The Chair of Inghams, Helen Nash, said: “Andrew has done an exceptional job leading the business since his appointment in early 2021, successfully stabilising the business and optimising its performance. His preparedness to step into the leadership role in 2021 from his position as a Non-Executive Director of the company is a great demonstration of his commitment to the business and our team across Australia and New Zealand.
“After an extraordinary 40-year executive and Board career, we understand his decision to retire from full-time executive life. Andrew will leave the business in a sound operating and financial position, with solid underlying fundamentals and positioned for future growth. On behalf of the Inghams Board, our employees and shareholders, I would like to thank Andrew for his invaluable contribution and service to Inghams, including his two earlier years as a Non-Executive Director.”
Andrew Reeves said: “It has been an honour to be part of the success of Inghams. During my time leading the Company, we successfully navigated a global pandemic, stabilised and returned the business to strong profitability, and set in place a clear strategy and investment plans to support future business growth. After much thought and careful consideration, the time has come for me to hand over the reins to the next generation of leaders to take Inghams forward.”
In announcing the appointment of Ed Alexander, Helen Nash said: “We are thrilled that Ed has accepted the role. Ed joined Ingham’s in 2015 and has held several key leadership roles, culminating in his appointment as Chief Executive, New Zealand, in June 2022, with responsibility for all aspects of the New Zealand business.
“Under Ed’s leadership, the New Zealand business successfully navigated significant COVID-related operational challenges, with the business achieving remarkable results including materially improving underlying earnings and completing the strategic acquisitions of Bromley Park Hatcheries and Bostock Brothers organic chicken business to improve Inghams’ positioning within the market.
“Ed is an established operational leader with extensive experience in the Company across sales, corporate development, strategy, integrated business planning and commercial optimisation makes him uniquely qualified to lead the business and will ensure an orderly leadership transition.”
Commenting on his appointment, Ed said: “I am honoured by the appointment and excited by the opportunities that we have in front of us as a business. The Company’s long history has been built around a core philosophy of being deeply customer-centric, doing things “the right way” and making bold moves where it makes sense to do so. These principles remain an important foundation for where we are today, and I look forward to leading the business into a new era of sustainable growth.
“On a personal note, I am very grateful for the mentorship that Andrew has provided me over the last 3.5 years, as well giving me the opportunity to step into the role of Chief Executive of NZ. I have learnt a great deal from him, and I wish him every future success.”
