DIVERSE farm services and selling agency business Ruralco has confirmed Travis Dillon has been officially appointed chief executive officer and managing director, on a $750,000 fixed salary.
Mr Dillon, who joined Ruralco in 2007, has been filling the managing director's role in an acting capacity since the sudden resignation of John Maher in May.
He will be relocating from Adelaide to the company's new head office in Macquarie Park in northern Sydney.
Ruralco has an Australia-wide network of more than 40 specialist businesses, spanning more than 500 outlets, with many of its livestock, real estate and farm inputs supply businesses operating as joint ventures.
Its services expertise ranges from farm merchandise to fertiliser, wool, livestock, real estate, risk management, water trading, grain marketing, finance and insurance.
News of Mr Dillon's official appointment follows other recent additions to the company's leadership team, former ANZ agribusiness specialist Ian Perry appointed as financial services general manager, Adrian Gratwicke as chief financial officer and Elizabeth Hardaker as people and culture general manager.
Ruralco's board selected Mr Dillon after also considering other candidates from within the company and internationally.
His previous roles in the business have included general manager of rural retail business, and mainland operations general manager, overseeing the company's broad mix of rural operations from livestock, live exports and wool merchandising to real estate.
Company chairman Richard England said Mr Dillon's wealth of agribusiness sector experience spanned 20 years.
"He is highly regarded at Ruralco and has a strong understanding of the business, having worked across all activities within the group," Mr England said.
"With his external knowledge of the sector, operational capabilities and strong leadership skills Travis is well placed to lead Ruralco through its next phase of development."
Mr Dillon, who holds an advanced diploma in rural business management and is completing an Masters of Business Administration, said he was "really proud to be working with the Ruralco team at an exciting time in the agricultural sector".
"Ruralco is well placed to continue to diversify and grow the business," he said.
Andrew Marshall
National agribusiness writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
National agribusiness writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
