WEST PERTH, AUSTRALIA — CBH Group announced on Dec. 19 that Trent Bartlett will join its board as an independent director, effective Feb. 28, 2012. Bartlett will replace Peter Knowles, who intends to retire as a director after three years on the board.

CBH Group Chairman Neil Wandel said the appointment of Bartlett would bring valuable skills and experience to the board. Bartlett currently holds the position of chief executive officer (CEO) at Peter Stannard Homes and prior to this was the chief executive officer of Capricorn Society, one of Australia’s most successful co-operative enterprises, from 2001 to 2011.

Before that, he held senior executive positions with David Jones Ltd and Target Australia, then part of the Coles Myer Group. Bartlett is also a director of Kresta Holdings Ltd and director of Good Samaritan Industries.

Wandel said Bartlett’s extensive background in marketing, strategy and leadership, including at the 14,000-member Capricorn Society, positioned him to make a strong contribution to creating and returning value to CBH Group’s grower members.

“It is vital CBH maintains a range of relevant expertise among its directors, in such a challenging, competitive and dynamic environment,” Wandel said.

“We are the biggest co-operative in Australia with a turnover, including pool revenue, in excess of $2.8 billion. Trent’s experience in senior executive roles and as a company director, together with his senior involvement in industry organizations, will complement the skills of our nine member-elected grower directors and two other independent directors.”

Wandel said Knowles would remain an active board member until his retirement date; however he wished to take this early opportunity to acknowledge the valuable contribution Knowles had made to the CBH Group over the past three years.

“On behalf of my fellow directors and our grower members, I thank Peter for the valuable role he has played as chairman of the Investment Committee and the important contribution he has made generally to the board through his commercial experience and expertise, clarity of thought in decision-making and sound judgment,” Wandel said.