MAX Johnson is the new chairman elect of United Farmers Co-operative, replacing founding chairman Rod Madden who is retiring.
Mr Johnson was an inaugural director of United and part of the team that steered the farmer-owned cooperative towards becoming a multi-million dollar business that now has more than 3,000 shareholders.
The Morowa farmer and businessman was one of the main drivers in forming the cooperative more than 10 years ago.
Mr Johnson said he was looking forward to the challenges ahead.
The cooperative has grown from its first 15,000 tonne fertiliser shipment into Geraldton in 1992 to having bulk handling facilities from Geraldton to Esperance.
It recently opened a $11 million facility at Kwinana in association with Fremantle Ports.