PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA — The CBH Group has named Ben Macnamara as acting chief executive officer, effective July 1.

Jimmy Wilson, outgoing CEO, will continue to lead CBH until his planned retirement on June 30.

Simon Stead, chair of the CBH board, said Macnamara will remain as acting CEO while the board’s internal and external search for the next CEO for the CBH Group progresses and until the appointment of a permanent one.

“Ben has demonstrated a strong commitment to the cooperative and the grain growers of Western Australia and is a highly capable leader with significant experience in our industry,” Stead said. “With Jimmy having set up the right organizational structure at CBH, Ben will continue to consolidate and build on the strategic direction of the cooperative, which the board and Jimmy have implemented over the past near four years.

“This includes continuing to focus on the core of the business, pursue better safety outcomes, engage and develop our people, and invest in the network for the benefit of our growers and customers.”

Macnamara has been chief operating officer of CBH since February 2019 where he is responsible for leading the cooperative’s storage and handling, logistics, maintenance and shipping services. He joined CBH in 2014 serving as commercial and business development manager and then general manager planning, strategy and development.   

“I look forward to leading the cooperative while in this acting position and working with the board, growers, employees and our partners as we continue our investment in the network and work to ensure the supply chain runs as efficiently as possible, particularly for the coming harvest,” Macnamara said.

Mick Daw has been appointed acting chief operations officer. Daw is CBH’s current Esperance Zone general manager and has been in that role for 17 years.