Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC) has removed its CEO, Tanya Barden, effective immediately. The council’s chair, Anthony Holme, said it was a “mutually agreed separation”.
AFGC chief operating officer (COO), Colm Maguire, has been appointed interim CEO.
Barden was at the council for 12 years and CEO for the last seven.
Last year, as several inquiries were underway into the supermarkets, pricing practices, and supplier relationships, Barden spoke to Food & Drink Business about the difficulties facing the industry.
Issues including increased cost pressures, ageing assets, and a lack of investment had been top line items for Barden and the AFGC for several years. She advocated for tax incentives to encourage investment in food production capabilities as well as government grants and expressed frustration at the lack of representation of the sector in the Future Made in Australia strategy.
Barden acknowledged there was room to improve the retailer/supplier relationship but warned of possible unintended consequences of some of the suggestions being considered for a mandatory Food and Grocery Code of Conduct.
Holme said during her tenure at the AFGC, Barden had been a “staunch and very effective advocate” for the industry demonstrating “sound expertise” on the issues that mattered to the council’s members.
“This includes helping our sector navigate the myriads of challenges through COVID, working collaboratively on the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct and the importance of food and grocery manufacturing to the Australian economy,” Holme said.
According to The Australian, Barden’s departure was “sudden and unexplained” but it was rumoured there had been friction between her and the board “for some time” and she “finally agreed to depart in the new year”.
Barden had also led the AFGC’s efforts and been “instrumental” in developing the National Plastics Recycling Scheme – now Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia, “which serves as a blueprint for future circular systems,” Holme said.
“Tanya has made a great impact in her time as CEO and on behalf of the AFGC and our members, I would like to thank her for her leadership and wish her the best for the future,” he said.
In a recent column for Food & Drink Business’ print magazine, Barden emphasised the importance of the next couple months, saying what is done in that time will “echo in the health of the sector for years to come”.
“The upcoming Federal election, packaging reforms, energy security, preventive health reforms and the outcome of the ACCC supermarket inquiry will impact the industry’s future,” she said.
The AFGC Board
Chair – Kellanova Australia and New Zealand managing director, Anthony Holme
Deputy chair – Asahi Lifestyle Beverages CEO, Nigel Parsons
McCain Foods Australia managing director, Lyn Radford
McCormick Foods Australia managing director, Paris Golden
Patties CEO, Paul Hitchcock
Kimberly-Clark VP & managing director ANZ, Belinda Driscoll
Bulla Dairy Foods CEO, Allan Hood
Noshu Foods founder and CEO, Rachel Bajada
Colm’s role comprises leadership of organisational culture, HR, finance, business operations and governance as well as the AFGC’s member services and events.
