August 1, 2009

 

Viterra supports interim ABB management structure

 

 

Viterra Inc. fully endorses the newly appointed Executive Committee that has been put in place at ABB Grain Ltd. following the retirement of Michael Iwaniw, Managing Director.

 

Over the next six weeks leading up to the date of the Scheme meeting, an Executive Committee comprised of Terry O'Connor, Acting Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Kingsley David will manage ABB and will report to a sub-committee of the Board comprised of Perry Gunner (Chairman) and Kevin Osborn.

 

Terry O'Connor joined ABB in 2003 and has been involved in the agri-industry for almost 30 years. His experience includes importing to and exporting from Australasia to destinations around the world. Terry O'Connor has been instrumental in the Company's integration following the merger of AusBulk in 2004. Terry is responsible for managing the New Zealand operations and providing business opportunities resulting in sustained growth for ABB.

 

Kingsley David, is a Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA) with over 20 years experience in finance, the last nine with ABB. He has been Chief Financial Officer for the past two years and previously Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Kingsley has been involved in ABB's growth initiatives and international expansion and with various merger and acquisitions activities.

 

Should the combination of ABB and Viterra be approved, a new leader with a deep perspective of the Australian marketplace will be appointed to lead the Australian, New Zealand and South East Asian operations. This individual will become a member of Viterra's CEO Council, a group of senior Viterra executives that is charged with the development of the business and strategic plans for the organisation under the direction of the President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

Viterra also confirmed that four directors from ABB have been named to join Viterra's Board of Directors should the combination of the two companies proceed. The appointments would be effective following the implementation of the Scheme.

 

The appointments include:

 

Perry Gunner, B.AgSc, Grad. Dip. Bus. Admin, is the Chair of ABB's Board and serves on its Nomination and Remuneration Committees. He is a Director of Australian Vintage Ltd. and Freedom Nutritional Foods Limited and a previous Director of AusBulk Ltd.

 

Max Venning, MAICD is the Deputy Chair of ABB's Board, and serves on Nomination and Grower Links Committees. A grower from Bute, South Australia, he is also a previous director of AusBulk Ltd. and United Grower Holdings Ltd.

 

Paul Daniel, FAICD, currently serves on the Finance and Audit Committees of ABB's Board. He is a previous director of Direct Fertilisers Ltd and is a grower from Balaklava, South Australia.

 

Kevin Osborn, FAICD, FFTA, FPNA, is the Chair of ABB's Finance and Audit Committees of the Board, and a member of the Corporate Risk and Compliance and Remuneration Committees. He is Deputy Chairman of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd and director of Leaders Institute of SA Inc.