ELDERS has announced a replacement for long-time chief executive officer Mark Allison, with a dairy industry boss set to take over in October.
Outgoing Elders managing director and chief executive officer Mark Allison. Photo: Elders
René Dedoncker joins Elders after nearly two decades at Fonterra Group, where he held multiple senior executive roles, most recently serving as CEO of Mainland Group. He previously held senior management positions at Mars Corporation.
Outgoing CEO Mark Allison has been in the role for more than 10 years, taking over the role in 2014. He first indicated his intentions to retire in 2023, however, he decided to stay on.
Elders has had some changes in its management ranks in recent times, with a restructure at the start of the year making the roles of Queensland/NT state general manager Lisa Hewitt and Victoria/Riverina state general manager Brendan Rinaldi redundant.
Elders chair Glenn Davis said the board was confident the appointment would drive Elders’ capacity to create value for shareholders, customers and communities.
“We are delighted to welcome René as our next CEO. He brings deep agricultural roots and outstanding leadership experience to Elders,” Mr Davis said.
“His proven expertise at Fonterra and Mars has seen him drive operational excellence and strategic growth on a global scale. The Board has great confidence in his ability to lead Elders into its next phase of success.
Mr Davis said Mr Dedoncker’s appointment followed a comprehensive search process and reflects Elders’ strategy to combine agribusiness leadership with operational excellence.
“René’s strong strategic acumen, operational discipline and genuine passion for agriculture make him an excellent choice to lead Elders. He understands the importance of our regional network and client relationships and has a demonstrated ability to drive growth and operational performance while upholding Elders’ values and heritage.”
Mr Davis also paid tribute to outgoing CEO Mark Allison.
“Mark Allison has been an outstanding, values driven leader of Elders. Over more than a decade as Managing Director and CEO, Mark has steered the company through significant industry cycles and ensured Elders’ continued growth and resilience. The Board sincerely thanks Mark for his exceptional contribution, and we are pleased he will remain during the transition to support René’s onboarding.”
Accepting the appointment, Mr Dedoncker said he was honoured to lead an iconic organisation in Australian agriculture.
“I am truly honoured that the Elders Board has placed its trust in me. Elders is an iconic name with a proud history in Australian agriculture, and I have long admired its commitment to farmers and rural communities. I look forward to working with the Board, Mark, and the Elders team to continue delivering value for our clients, shareholders and people. Together, we will build on Elders’ strong foundations and drive its next stage of growth,” Mr Dedoncker said.
Mr Allison welcomed the announcement and the leadership transition.
“This is the right time to hand over the leadership of Elders, and the Board has chosen a strong successor in René who has my full support and endorsement. We have positioned Elders for long term success and I’m confident René will further that momentum. It has been a great privilege to serve as Managing Director and CEO of Elders, and I remain committed to supporting a smooth transition.”