EXPERIENCED red meat industry senior operations manager Michael Crowley is the new managing director of Meat & Livestock Australia.

His appointment, officially announced this morning, follows an extensive four-month recruitment process following the departure of former managing director Jason Strong, who announced his resignation in November.

Mick Crowley

Mr Crowley spent much of his earlier career in program management roles with MLA.

Her left the industry service delivery company, somewhat unexpectedly, in November 2022, taking up a role last March as chief executive officer with the Herefords Australia breed society.

Widely respected in industry circles, Mr Crowley was one of the people identified as a potential candidate for the MLA MD role in this Beef Central article, published last December.

Prior to his departure, Mr Crowley spent 14 years with MLA in a variety of important program management roles, and served as a member of the senior executive team for six years.

His most recent MLA role was as general manager of Research and Development, having previously held a range of senior operations positions including program manager of Meat Standards Australia and regional manager for Europe and Russia based in Brussels.

Personal interest in the Hereford breed, professional interest and family reasons were all factors in his decision to take on the challenge as CEO of Herefords Australia last year, he told Beef Central at the time.

Mr Crowley’s family runs a Poll Hereford Stud near Barraba, about two hours drive from his home in Armidale. He has also been a member of the Herefords Australia board for the past three years.

Meat & Livestock Australia chairman Alan Beckett said Mr Crowley came to the role with extensive experience with the industry domestically and internationally, including several senior roles previously with MLA.

“The MLA Board is thrilled to announce Michael as managing director,” Mr Beckett said. “His knowledge of the industry and of MLA’s functions will see him well-placed to ensure MLA continues to deliver high impact services and outcomes for industry.”

“MLA is about to begin consultation and development of a new five-year strategic plan and we look forward to Michael leading that process.”

Mr Crowley said he was excited by the opportunity and privilege to lead MLA as its next managing director.

“The Australian red meat and livestock sector is an exciting and dynamic industry,” he said. “MLA has a key role in driving that further through R&D, innovation, marketing, and much more.

“I look forward to working with the MLA team, its board, levy-payers, peak councils, government and all of our partners to deliver high impact outcomes for the industry.”

Mr Crowley will take up his appointment on 27 May.