By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gary Arnold has been appointed as the new CEO of Astral Foods, South Africa’s largest poultry producer, the group announced on Thursday.
Arnold, currently serving as Astral’s operations chief, will replace Chris Schutte who will be retiring as CEO at the group’s annual general meeting on 30 January 2025.
Arnold, who has been COO and an executive director at Astral since 2012, has worked alongside Schutte for many years and “has been an integral part of Astral for the past 28 years”, the company says.
“He has extensive experience and an in-depth understanding of our integrated business model and has been integral in executing the group’s strategy. The board would like to wish Arnold all the best in his new position.
“The board is confident that, under his leadership, Astral will continue to build on maintaining its position as South Africa’s leading integrated poultry producer,” it adds.
Arnold started his career in 1997 as an Animal Nutritionist for Meadow Feeds Delmas and Meadow Feeds Welkom.
In 1998, he was appointed the Technical Manager for Meadow Feeds Delmas, and in 2001, he was appointed as the Technical Manager for Meadow Feeds’ northern region.
In 2004, he was appointed as the Managing Director of Provimi SSA, previously Nutec Southern Africa, and in 2006, he was appointed to the position of COO for Meadow Feeds in the Western Cape.
Arnold was appointed the Director of Business Development of Astral Operations on 1 November 2010, and in October 2016, he was appointed to the position of Managing Director of Astral’s Agriculture Division.