Mark Palmquist, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of GrainCorp, said the company had been speaking with many grain growers and buyers to get the clearest possible understanding of their requirements in the modern, competitive marketplace.
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| Mark Palmquist, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of GrainCorp. |
“Customer feedback has been clear: we need to make our customer experience more consistent, to reflect the steady evolution of their needs since deregulation,” Palmquist said. “The modern grower is sharply focused on marketing opportunities and maximizing the value of their grain, while processors are becoming more demanding about the specific functional characteristics they require. This change will mean we are better able to strategically target and create value opportunities for our customers.”
GrainCorp’s goals for streamlining the grains operations are:
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GrainCorp’s grower customer performance will improve and the company will be more competitive at the farm gate;
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Moving to a single point of contact will make the company easier to do business with;
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GrainCorp will be more competitive against its integrated global competitors; and
- Open access to GrainCorp’s network will continue, including full freedom of choice for growers, exporters and domestic buyers using the network.
Palmquist said the change was relatively simple and there would be no change or disruption to GrainCorp’s preparations or roles critical for the coming harvest.
Klaus Pamminger has agreed to take responsibility for running the combined business unit, and will be appointed Group general manager, Grains, having served as Group general manager, Marketing, for the past five years. A new role, general manager, Customer, reporting to Pamminger also has been created. This role will have responsibility for delivering a more strategic approach and cohesive experience for customers, the company said.
As a result of these changes, Neil Johns, Group general manager, Storage & Logistics, will leave GrainCorp after an extensive career with the company spanning three decades.
“Neil has played a significant role in making GrainCorp the diversified company it is today through his role in the acquisitions of the Malt and Oils businesses and through making significant improvements to our Australian operations,” Palmquist said. “I thank him for his major contribution and join with all our staff in wishing him every success in the future.”
GrainCorp will continue to report Storage & Logistics and Marketing separately for its fiscal year 2017 result.
