IN THE next round of musical chairs for the agribusiness sector, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has appointed former stock and station agent Richard Norton as managing director.
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Mr Norton (pictured) has resigned from his relatively recent appointment as Ruralco's general manager network development to take up the role at MLA, replacing Scott Hansen who left MLA in April.
MLA chairwoman Michele Allan said an extensive executive search had led to an outstanding appointment who would be ideally placed to lead the organisation.
"Richard brings extensive experience and knowledge of global agricultural retail supply chains as well as agricultural marketing and production systems," said Dr Allan, who also coincidentally resigned as a director of Ruralco on May 16.
A Ruralco statement on Monday said Dr Allan left as a result of a business conflict. She joined the board in March 2012.
Formerly boss at Landmark, Mr Norton only joined Ruralco early this year in a surprise appointment on the heels of the recruitment of several Elders' cattle traders to set up its own live export division late in 2013.
It was one of two key appointments flagged in Ruralco's announcement of its full year results for 2012-13 with the company also appointing new chief financial officer, Ruth Martin, to replace Andrew Ferguson who resigned in July.
Mr Norton said he was excited about the next stage in his agribusiness career.
"My passion has long been Australia's agricultural sector and I am keen to work to increase opportunities in domestic and international markets for the benefit of levy payers," Mr Norton said.
"MLA plays an important role for so many different individuals and businesses and it is important we demonstrate our value to the entire livestock supply chain."
Mr Norton will start in the MLA role on Monday June 2.
Ruralco managing director John Maher said although Mr Norton's time at the company was short, "his contribution to the business was productive and added a great deal of value".
Outgoing MLA boss, Mr Hansen, moved to director general of the NSW Department of Primary Industries after having held that job at MLA for two-and-a-half years. He had previously worked for MLA in the US and headed its communications unit in Sydney.
Mr Norton, who trained as a stock and station agent after growing up on the NSW Monaro, has held a range of agency management operations in his career and was head of Landmark's wool and livestock divisions before the business was bought by Calgary-based Agrium four years ago.
He had also played a lead role in developing Landmark's live export market to China in the two years before taking the top job late in 2010 when the farm services firm was split from the de-listed AWB agribusiness group.
Mr Norton's move to the Melbourne head office had followed a stint at Land- mark's Moss Vale branch on the NSW Southern High- lands four years earlier, and prior to that a period in logistics management in Sydney.
Although Landmark was able to use its new parent company's momentum to expand its farm inputs footprint and revive its rural heartland credentials under Mr Norton's leadership, the business has also been under pressure to boost returns in a tight marketplace compounded by dry seasonal conditions last year and a slide in livestock values.
Mr Norton's decision to leave in August caught the local industry, and Agrium, by surprise.
He was replaced at Landmark by American Tommy Warner, the general manager for one of Agrium's High Plains Division.
