GrainCorp begins search for next Managing Director & CEO
GrainCorp (ASX: GNC) has announced that the Board and Managing Director & CEO Robert Spurway have agreed to commence a succession process and begin the search for the Company’s next Managing Director & CEO.
Mr Spurway, who has led GrainCorp for more than six years, will continue to lead the Company while the Board undertakes the succession process, supporting an orderly transition to his successor. The Board is undertaking a comprehensive search process, and further updates will be provided in due course.
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Spurway’s tenure by the numbers
GrainCorp has delivered Total Shareholder Returns of 201 per cent since Mr Spurway joined as CEO, compared with 110 per cent for the benchmark ASX200 Index over the same period.
- Mr Spurway joined GrainCorp in 2020, following the demerger of the Malt business and a prolonged period of drought.
- The returns are measured from 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2026 and assume reinvestment of dividends.
| Measure | Total Shareholder Returns | Period |
|---|---|---|
| GrainCorp | 201 per cent | 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2026 |
| ASX200 Index | 110 per cent | 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2026 |
Strategic priorities advanced
GrainCorp Chairman Peter Richards credited Mr Spurway with advancing strategic priorities that:
- diversified and strengthened the resilience of the business; and
- positioned GrainCorp as a leading voice on issues critical to Australian agriculture, including international trade, sustainability and the development of a credible pathway for a domestic renewable fuels industry.
The company also said significant strategic and operational changes embedded during his tenure have delivered efficiency underpinned by disciplined capital management.
The efficiency gains tied to the Business Transformation Program include a fully implemented Agribusiness operating model overhaul and a $20-30 million through-the-cycle EBITDA uplift targeted by the end of FY28.
Peter Richards, Chairman
“On behalf of the Board, I thank Robert for his significant contribution to the Company.”
A well-defined strategy and strong balance sheet
Mr Spurway said that after almost seven years as CEO, the Board and he agree now is the right time to look for a new leader, at a moment when there is a well-defined strategy and strong balance sheet. He added that he remains focused on leading the business and delivering priorities during this time.
As the Company looks forward, the Board remains focused on the continued delivery of growth to create further shareholder value.
Capital discipline under the current leadership also extended to portfolio decisions, with the GrainsConnect Canada exit completed in June 2026 after a strategic review that began the previous December.
Robert Spurway, Managing Director & CEO
“GrainCorp is a truly great company that plays an essential role in the agricultural economy and in Australia’s international trading relationships, and I am confident it has a great future ahead.”
What happens next for GrainCorp
GrainCorp is one of Australia’s largest integrated agribusinesses operating across the food, feed and fuel value chain.
- The Board’s comprehensive search for a new Managing Director & CEO is underway, with Mr Spurway continuing to lead the Company during the process. Further updates will be provided in due course.
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