OMAHA, NEBRASKA, US — J. Keith Spackler, chief executive officer of Ag Processing, Inc., has informed the company’s board of directors that he intends to retire at the end of the fiscal year on Aug. 31. Spackler will continue in his role as CEO until a successor is named and the transition in leadership is complete.

Spackler’s career spans over 40 years in agribusiness, beginning his career working in commodities and economic analysis. He joined AGP in May 1985, working in business analysis, strategic planning and finance. He was promoted to roles of expanded responsibility throughout his career. From 2001-12 Spackler was AGP’s chief financial officer before being promoted to CEO in September 2012.

During Spackler’s leadership tenure, AGP said he helped the company achieve substantial growth in volumes and profitability, focusing on its core businesses. Over the past nine years, the company has made investments to expand capacity and improve efficiencies at each of its 10 soybean processing plants, four refineries, three biodiesel plants, and export operations. Highlights during Spackler’s leadership tenure include a doubling of capacity at its Hastings, Nebraska, US, processing facility, the addition of a new processing plant in Aberdeen, South Dakota, US, and the completion of a new refinery and doubling of its biodiesel plant at Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, US.

“On behalf of the board of directors and everyone at AGP, I want to thank Keith for his leadership, dedication, and commitment during his 36 years of service to the company,” said Lowell Wilson, chairman of the AGP board of directors. “Throughout his tenure, Keith advanced a work environment and business culture that allowed AGP to generate outstanding financial and operational results, and a strong strategic position. In doing so, the company successfully achieved its mission to add value for its cooperative members and their producer-owners.”

Spackler called his time at AGP “a tremendous honor and privilege.”

“The dedication and effectiveness of the AGP board, management, and employee teams allow us to consistently add value and returns for our cooperative owners,” he said. “We have great confidence in the strength of our overall team and the continued ability of AGP to capitalize on future opportunities. I am fortunate and proud to be a part of the cooperative system dedicated to serving agriculture.”