Inghams Group CEO and managing director, Andrew Reeves, will retire in mid-2025, with the CEO of its New Zealand business, Edward Alexander, announced as his replacement.
Inghams chair, Helen Nash, said Reeves had done an “exceptional” job, “successfully stabilising the business and optimising its performance” since he became CEO in 2021.
“After an extraordinary 40-year executive and board career, we understand his decision to retire from full-time executive life. Andrew will leave the business in a sound operating and financial position, with solid underlying fundamentals and positioned for future growth,” Nash said.
Reeves had been a non-executive director for two years before becoming CEO. He said it was time for the next generation of leaders to “take Inghams forward”.
“During my time leading the company, we successfully navigated a global pandemic, stabilised and returned the business to strong profitability, and set in place a clear strategy and investment plans to support future business growth,” Reeves said.
Alexander was endorsed by the board after a “comprehensive global search” and other internal candidates. He has worked at Inghams since 2015, and became New Zealand CEO in June 2022.
Nash said, “Ed is an established operational leader with extensive experience in the Company across sales, corporate development, strategy, integrated business planning and commercial optimisation makes him uniquely qualified to lead the business and will ensure an orderly leadership transition.
“Under Ed’s leadership, the New Zealand business successfully navigated significant Covid-related operational challenges, with the business achieving remarkable results including materially improving underlying earnings and completing the strategic acquisitions of Bromley Park Hatcheries and Bostock Brothers organic chicken business to improve Inghams’ positioning within the market.”
Alexander said he was excited by opportunities for the company.
“The company’s long history has been built around a core philosophy of being deeply customer-centric, doing things “the right way” and making bold moves where it makes sense to do so. These principles remain an important foundation for where we are today, and I look forward to leading the business into a new era of sustainable growth.
“On a personal note, I am very grateful for the mentorship that Andrew has provided me over the last 3.5 years, as well giving me the opportunity to step into the role of chief executive of New Zealand. I have learnt a great deal from him, and I wish him every future success,” Alexander said.
