Beef boss goes in luxury bid

A POWER struggle at the top of Australia’s largest beef company, which has strong links to the Territory trade, has reportedly triggered the axing of its much-respected boss.

After four years in charge of Australian Agricultural Company, Jason Strong resigned his chief executive post as the company continues its transformation from a cattle producer into luxury beef brand.

The Australian has reported that as the company transforms that brand, it decided Mr Strong’s strong cattle industry links and knowledge were being perceived as no longer a good fit for the new-look AACo.

It is expected any replacement – an international executive search by Egon Zehnder is now under way – will have strong consumer and luxury brand experience.

AACo manages a cattle herd of about 500,000 head throughout a strategic balance of properties, feedlots and farms throughout the Northern Territory and Queensland.

Its Livingstone Beef processing facility at Livingstone Valley, 50km south of Darwin, can process up to 1000 head of cattle a day.

AACo chairman Donald McGauchie praised Mr Strong for his significant contribution.

“Jason was exceptional in transforming an almost 200year-old cattle company into a supply chain-driven beef business,” he said.

“The next phase of our growth will be to continue the transformation into an internationally-focused luxury branded beef business.

“As the company progresses with this second phase of transformation, Jason told the board he felt it was timely to hand over at this point.”

AACo reported a profit of $71.6 million in the year to March 31, 2017, up from $67.8 million a year earlier.