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AuctionPlus CEO Angus Street departs for new role heading NZ Merino Co

Beef Central, 17/05/2023

THE operations head of Elders and Nutrien’s online marketing platform AuctionsPlus has resigned to move in a new direction, leading the New Zealand Merino Co.

In a return to his family roots in the wool industry while maintaining an innovation and technology focus, chief executive officer Angus Street will leave AuctionsPlus on 28 July.

Angus Street oversees an augmented reality session at AuctionsPlus

He will relocate to Christchurch where he will take up the NZM chief executive role in August. In the interim, NZMC chief operating officer, Peter Floris, will continue as acting chief executive.

The New Zealand Merino Co describes itself as a world-leading international marketer and seller of ethical wool, and is involved in various innovations across the primary sector. The company markets both Australian and New Zealand fibre. Australian agri-services wool and livestock business AWN in January become the largest single shareholder in the NZMC.

AuctionsPlus has started its search for a new chief executive. In the interim, Mr Street will work with the business’s leadership team to ensure a smooth transition for the business and all stakeholders.

Mr Street has served as CEO of AuctionsPlus for nearly five years after taking over from Anna Speer, and has led significant business growth and secured the platform’s position as the largest digital agriculture marketplace in Australia. He previously held management roles at Hort Innovation, Meat & Livestock Australia, and Bastion Collective.

NZM board chair Kate Mitchell said Angus’ dual experience in technology and agriculture, coupled with a personal affinity for the farming sector made him an ideal candidate to follow in the footsteps of NZM’s first CEO John Brakenridge, who retires after 22 years in the role.

“John was responsible for transforming the fine wool industry in New Zealand, so his resignation kick-started a global search for a leader with the tenacity and imagination necessary to continue NZM’s story. We are delighted to have Angus join the team,” she said.

Environmental, social and animal welfare focus

NZM said technology was critical to its future. Last year the company announced a partnership with Silicon Valley technology company, Actual, to help equip NZM’s growers with tools to monitor and improve their environmental, social and animal welfare performance.

NZM said it developed its first long-term contracts between growers and global brands in 1996 and pioneered the world’s first ethical wool certification with an unprecedented global network of 130 leading brands.

Mr Street said NZM was known for making bold moves and the next chapter wasn’t going to change that.

“I’m looking forward to getting out amongst the growers and helping them to produce and market the best wool in the world.”

Connections back to wool industry’s earliest days

Mr Street grew up in rural New South Wales and has developed a passion for innovation and sustainability in agriculture. He said staying connected to the rural sector was important to him. NZMC had been challenging the status quo for 27 years and was leading the way in sustainable and regenerative farming.

“This is a particularly interesting opportunity for me as my family’s roots can be traced back to the birth of the wool industry in Australia in 1797 with the introduction of Spanish blood Merinos by Captain Henry Waterhouse,” he said.

Mr Street’s mother Felicity Rutledge (nee Kater) is the great-granddaughter of Edward Kater who founded Mumblebone Merino Stud, alongside his brother Henry, who later went on to found his own stud, Egalabra. The bloodlines used in both can be traced back to the early Spanish blood Merinos brought into Australia by Captain Waterhouse.

AuctionsPlus chairman, Kelly Freeman, thanked Mr Street for his efforts and commitment to growing the marketing company and helping create value for agricultural producers across Australia.

Mr Street’s departure from AuctionsPlus comes at a time when cattle markets of all types in Australia are in sharp decline. Clearance rates on last week’s online cattle auctions reached just 38pc.

 

 

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  1. Richard Wright, 17/05/2023

    Auctions Plus was a result of a failing computer aided livestock market (CALM) previously NELCM (New England Livestock Computer Marketing) initiated by a group of northern NSW producers. It was rescued by the first interface sale (ie live sale interface with an electronic marketing system) held on Jeogla station Armidale. The concept was donated by the then owners of Jeogla for the benefit of the whole industry. Ignore your history at your peril. Acknowledge. Signed Richard B. Wright (2022 ABC / Kondinin Farmers Legend of the year. $3.5 billion worth of livestock went through Auctions plus in 2022.

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