Andy Crane, former chief executive officer of CBH

LEETON, AUSTRALIA — Andy Crane, former chief executive officer of CBH, is set to join SunRice, an Australian-based rice food company, as additional external director. Crane’s election to the board will be voted on during SunRice’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Sept. 20 by A Class grower shareholders.

Crane has more than 30 years’ experience working in agriculture for a range of trading, processing and international marketing businesses as statutory authorities, listed entities and cooperatives. He recently retired after eight years as CEO of CBH to pursue a non-executive director career. According to SunRice, CBH is Australia’s second largest private company with A$3.9 billion turnover, running a 15-million-tonne grain supply chain, including 200 receival sites, ports and rail fleet and is Australia’s largest grain trader and exporter.

Crane also has experience trading with and investing in Asia, including as a former director of CBH’s joint venture Interflour. SunRice noted that Interflour is one of Asia’s largest flour milling businesses operating in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

“We’ve received wide-spread support from growers and shareholders over the past 18 months on the proposed appointment of another skills-based director,” said Laurie Arthur, chairman of SunRice. “Andy is very experienced, with a solid track record of delivering sustained growth and performance in large complex organizations through clear strategic thinking and execution, leadership of cultural change and a focus on safety and values.”

Arthur expressed his belief that Crane’s agriculture experience will benefit SunRice.

“He is a fantastic fit for SunRice, not only because of his extensive experience in Asia, but also because of his passion for agriculture and his resolve to see companies like ours prosper for our growers as well as investors,” Arthur said. “Given our strong growth agenda and our proposal to list SunRice’s existing structure on the ASX, the timing is ideal to add Andy’s skill set to our board. I look forward to introducing him to our growers and shareholders in the months ahead.”

Crane will be engaged as a consultant to SunRice ahead of the AGM. If his election is approved the board’s composition will continue to comprise a majority of grower directors.

“I have long been a supporter of Australian agricultural businesses growing to a scale that allows them to compete and thrive at a regional and global level,” Crane said. “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the growers and board of SunRice at this important time in their history, as we consider and implement the next stages of that growth and integration from grower to consumer.”

SunRice employs 2,200 employees in 50 countries and has 30 brands within 11 businesses. The company has operations including processing, packing and value-added food plants across Australia, the United States, the Middle East and Papua New Guinea.