MEAT & Livestock Australia has elected director John Lloyd to take over as the body’s new chairman, effective following the upcoming MLA annual general meeting on 20 November.

Mr Lloyd has been an MLA director since 2019 and takes over the chair role from Alan Beckett, who has been MLA chair since 2019 and a director since 2014.

According to the MLA website, Mr Lloyd and his family run a small agricultural enterprise at Borenore, near Orange, NSW. He has led and created new funding models that have catered for longer-term strategic issues such as export markets, biosecurity, health and nutrition, pollination, major pests, intensive farming systems and urban greening as well as accessing broader and non-traditional sources of investment.

Mr Lloyd is the former chief executive officer of Horticulture Innovation Australia/HAL and has been managing director of Case IH/New Holland ANZ, general manager of commercial with Incitec Pivot, general manager of merchandise with Wesfarmers Dalgety and a Wine Australia director.

Mr Beckett congratulated Mr Lloyd on his election as chair, which came at a critical time for the organisation as it approaches a new five-year strategic plan.

“It has been an honour represent red meat producers and levy payers as a member of MLA’s board and as chair,” Mr Beckett said.

“I congratulate John and wish him the best as he starts a new leadership chapter for MLA, supported by an exceptionally talented board, management team, staff and industry,” he said.