CBH Group CEO to step down

Longstanding CBH Group chief executive Imre Mencshelyi has announced his decision to retire in April next year after 42 years with the Perth-based grain handler.

Mr Mencshelyi has held the chief executive role for 14 years.

In making the announcement, CBH chairman Neil Wandel paid tribute to Mr Mencshelyi's contribution to the company and the wider grains industry.

"Few individuals in this industry could attest to having achieved the significant outcomes for Western Australian grain growers that Mr Mencshelyi has," he said.

"He has been a leader through significant industry change and can leave knowing he has made a remarkable difference.

"Today the company is well-recognised as one of the leading grain handling businesses in the world. Under Mr Mencshelyi's leadership, it has been innovative and most importantly, maintained its close link with Western Australian grain growers.

"Mr Mencshelyi has been a tremendous leader and his service to the industry has been of the highest order.

"Under his leadership, the CBH Group has grown from a $170 million grain warehouse operator in the year 2000 to an integrated agribusiness dealing in storage and handling, grain marketing, processing and engineering valued in excess of $1.5 billion in 2008.

"Mr Mencshelyi's passion for innovation and his visionary approach has seen the CBH Group lead the industry in advances in grain quality protection and logistics coordination throughout the supply chain."

Mr Wandel said Mr Mencshelyi's passion and strength would be missed but his influence and development of people within the CBH Group would provide the base for the company to continue to operate in a complex industry environment.

"Mr Mencshelyi walks away knowing he has 'done his bit' and can be extremely proud of his achievements," he said.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors and the growers of Western Australia, I sincerely thank Mr Mencshelyi for his commitment, leadership and passion for the CBH Group and the Western Australian grains industry and wish him well for the future."

Mr Wandel said the board would begin an extensive search immediately for a successor. He expected it to identify a strong field of both internal and external candidates.