The Chairman of Inghams Group Limited [ASX: ING, Ingham’s], Peter Bush, today announced that after four years of leading Ingham’s, Chief Executive Officer Mick McMahon would be leaving the company, stepping down from the role after the Company’s annual results in August 2018. Mr McMahon will be available to the end of the calendar year to assist with an orderly leadership transition.

A domestic and international executive search process has commenced and it is expected there will be internal candidates for the role.

Quinton Hildebrand, currently Ingham’s Chief Commercial Officer, will be appointed acting CEO effective August 2018 and will remain in the role during the search process. Amongst other roles, Quinton was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Mackay Sugar.

Mr Bush said "We thank Mick for his years of meaningful leadership and service to Ingham’s, in particular taking the iconic Australian company on the complex journey through private ownership, through a successful IPO and implementing Project Accelerate, a strategy to make the company more efficient and competitive. His remarkable results speak for themselves.

"Quinton is well respected in the business and, having led key parts of the company, is well prepared to step up when Mick leaves the business."

Mr McMahon said "As we started work on preparing the next 3-5 year strategy, it was the moment for me to make a decision about whether I wanted to commit for the years ahead. After four years of intense focus and commitment to the company, its employees and shareholders, it was clear to me that now was the time to begin the search for the new chief executive officer. Advising the Board of my decision now facilitates an orderly leadership transition and allows business as usual operations during the executive search.

"I will leave Ingham’s at the end of the year with my best wishes for its continued success."

About Quinton Hildebrand

Quinton joined Ingham’s in November 2015 as Operations Excellence Director and was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in March 2017. Quinton brings 23 years’ commercial experience in manufacturing operations, commodity trading and marketing, and grower relations from South Africa, Europe and Australia. Prior to joining Ingham’s Quinton was CEO of Mackay Sugar.