Management shakeup at South Africa’s largest chicken producer

Chicken producer Astral Foods has selected Gary Arnold to take over as chief executive after Chris Schutte’s retirement in January next year.

On 8 August 2024, Astral Foods announced that Schutte, its current CEO, will be retiring at the company’s next Annual General Meeting on 30 January 2025. 

Now, following the completion of a robust replacement process by the Nomination Committee, the company’s board has announced Arnold’s appointment as Astral’s new CEO, effective 1 February 2025.

Arnold has been the company’s Chief Operating Officer since 2021 and an Executive Director since 2012 and has worked alongside Schutte for many years. 

The company said Arnold has been an integral part of Astral for the past 28 years. 

“He has extensive experience and an in-depth understanding of our integrated business model and has been integral in executing the group’s strategy,” it said.

“The board would like to wish Arnold all the best in his new position. The board is confident that, under his leadership, Astral will continue to build on maintaining its position as South Africa’s leading integrated poultry producer.”

Arnold was appointed an executive director in May 2012 and COO in October 2021.

He started his career in 1997 as an Animal Nutritionist for Meadow Feeds Delmas and Meadow Feeds Welkom. 

In 1998, he was appointed the Technical Manager for Meadow Feeds Delmas, and in 2001, he was appointed as the Technical Manager for Meadow Feeds’ northern region. 

In 2004, he was appointed as the Managing Director of Provimi SSA, previously Nutec Southern Africa, and in 2006, he was appointed to the position of COO for Meadow Feeds in the Western Cape.

Arnold was appointed the Director of Business Development of Astral Operations on 1 November 2010, and in October 2016, he was appointed to the position of Managing Director of Astral’s Agriculture Division. 

From 1 October 2021, Gary has been appointed the group COO of Astral. 

This position was introduced with a specific mandate to optimise expansion opportunities and continuous improvement initiatives whilst effectively allocating capital and human resources across all Astral divisions.

According to his LinkedIn, Arnold is also part of the South African Poultry Association, where he serves as the Chair of the Broiler Organisation.