Campbell new Sanger CEO

James Campbell has replaced Graham Greenhalgh who has led Sanger's business for two years and now moves to be director of Bindaree Beef Group's business development.

Last month Sydney-based Sanger Australia and Inverell-based processor Bindaree Beef merged operations to reinforce their respective positions in the highly competitive domestic and export market, giving the new venture more ability to manage its entire supply chain.

Bindaree is also in the throes of buying the Mulligan family’s Myola feedlot at North Star in northern NSW - the state's largest custom-feedlot with 20,000 head capacity and annual turnover capacity of 80,000 head.

Sanger and Bindaree's working relationship dates back 42 years, with the meatworks business supplying about 55 per cent of Sanger’s combined orders prior to the merger.

Just back from a four-year stint in Shanghai, Mr Campbell's agribusiness career started on a family farm at Boorowa in southern NSW and has spanned accounting and banking and a consistent focus on agricultural businesses.

He has a double degree in commerce and business administration from the University of Canberra and before moving to China was involved with ANZ's institutional agribusiness portfolios in Victoria, Queensland NSW and the Northern Territory.

Prior to joining ANZ, James held positions at accounting services firm KPMG, where his primary work involved restructuring and insolvency for corporate agricultural businesses.

"James has a strong grasp of the key challenges and opportunities facing our customers and a clear vision that aligns with the Sanger executive team," said Bindaree Beef Group chairman, John (JR) McDonald.

"He takes on the chief executive role at an exciting time for Sanger, with a number of major projects underway as the business looks to further specialise in supplying branded meat programs."

Sanger sold $650 million of meat to 350 customers across the world in the last financial year. Bindaree Beef’s Inverell, NSW, abattoir processes 6000 head a week, and has prospered through decades that have seen dozens of other regional meatworks close

Mr Greenhalgh has been a director at Sanger since 1995, and from 2005 until 2013 held the position of chief operating officer's job, taking over as chief executive officer in July 2013 after the retirement of Richard Rains.

He started at Sanger as a trainee in 1987 under the guidance of long-term business partners Mr Rains and John Cooper, where as a meat trader he took responsibility for the company veal supply chain and was instrumental in opening the Japanese, Swedish and Canadian veal market for the company.

His experience has covered most major export markets for beef, veal and lamb.

"We have enjoyed the benefit of Graham's leadership since he became CEO," Mr McDonald said.

"He has laid a strong foundation for our future growth of which he can be very proud.

"With strong family roots in the meat industry and rural Australia, Graham has inspired each employee to share our passion for Australian meat with the world."