David Goodfellow

Senior Elders executive David Goodfellow has left the agency business, effective immediately, in the wake of the Mark Allison appointment late last month as the company’s new chief executive.

Many had tipped Mr Goodfellow as the likely successor to previous CEO, Malcolm Jackman, who left the company suddenly in November.

When he was overlooked for the position in the April 30 surprise announcement that the position would instead be filled by Mr Allison, speculation mounted that he might leave the company.

Mr Goodfellow joined Elders in January 2012 from Paraway Pastoral Co, where he served as chief executive. He served for the past two and a half years as Elders group general manager of the Australian agency network – a new position created directly under Malcolm Jackman.

Elders issued this brief statement about Mr Goodfellow’s departure this afternoon:

“David Goodfellow has made the decision to leave Elders following careful consideration of his future career direction.”

“David has made a number of significant contributions to Elders’ journey back to being a pure play agribusiness and in improving business performance.”

“The Elders Board and CEO Mark Allison thank David for his contribution and wish him well in his future professional and personal endeavours.”

The Elders statement said the company would now review its management team and align it with the business strategy and business segmentation to ensure it is “best positioned to become a value generating business for all Elders stakeholders.”

Prior to joining Elders, Mr Goodfellow guided the expansion of Macquarie Pastoral Fund’s Paraway Pastoral Co over the previous four years, growing the group into one of Australia’s largest diversified beef and sheep producers, with a footprint stretching from northern Australia into southern NSW.

He had previously spent 25 years as an Elders employee in agency operations and finance sectors, including terms as Elders Rural Bank Victorian state manager, and senior manager for Victoria.

His name came under discussion in industry ranks as a possible contender as Meat & Livestock Australia went through a four-month process in seeking to appoint a new managing director, to replace Scott Hansen.

Ultimately the job went to another agency-background candidate, former Landmark executive, Richard Norton.

– See more at: https://www.beefcentral.com/news/agribusiness/article/4711#sthash.KdkPK9IZ.dpuf