CANEGROWERS CEO Brendan Stewart has resigned.
The organisation's chairman Paul Schembri said it was with great regret that the Board has accepted Mr Stewart’s resignation.
In a statement released this morning, Mr Schembri said:
“Mr Stewart has played a major role in restructuring and modernising the organisation over the past 18 months, moving it from a 22 member to an eight member board.
“In establishing a policy council and revised committee structure within Canegrowers, Mr Stewart has given growers greater effective involvement in the direction of their industry organisation."
The former AWB chairman, who led that organisation during the height of the notorious Iraq wheat for weapons scandal, told Fairfax Media that his resignation had nothing to do with industry issues.
“I’ve enjoyed the many challenges that the industry has presented during my tenure,” Mr Stewart said.
Mr Stewart told Fairfax Media that his resignation had nothing to do with industry issues.
He said that after restructuring and reforming the industry and making it more relevant to growers for the past couple of years he felt it was time to move on.
“Many changes have been implemented to better position the organisation for what lies ahead," he said.
“With the new government in power the organisation needs someone who will commit for the next three years and I don’t feel I can do that.
“I’m going to take some time off and finish my MBA degree and then decide which way to go from there.
“I wish to thank the board for the opportunity and wish the organisation and its growers the very best for the future.”
Mr Schembri said he wished Mr Stewart well for the future, while declining to name his interim replacement or when a recruitment search will be conducted to find his replacement.
“We thank Mr Stewart for his stewardship, his strategic guidance in the sugar marketing debate and his positive leadership to our Smartcane best management practice program,” Mr Schembri said.
“His great contribution to the whole industry has been the fostering of co-operation among the different representative groups who have never been more aligned and united."
- with Reg Burton, NQR
