BEGA Cheese Limited's chief executive, Michael Byrnes, has stepped down due to health reasons.
Bega Cheese executive chairman Barry Irvin said: "By any measure Mick’s contribution to Bega Cheese over 24 years represents an enormous commitment and effort. When Mick joined Bega Cheese it had 60 staff and produced 2500 tonnes of bulk cheddar cheese on a single site at Bega. Today the Bega Cheese group manufactures and value adds in excess of 170,000 tonnes of dairy products across five sites and employs in excess of 1200 people".
The growth of Bega Cheese has included the purchase of a 70 per cent share of Tatura Milk Industries, the acquisition of cheese processing facilities from Kraft at Strathmerton and the acquisition of cheese manufacturing infrastructure in Melbourne.
"After 24 years involvement at Bega Cheese the decision to step down has been a difficult and emotional one, I would like to acknowledge the people I have worked with and the support they have given me over the many years we have worked together to build Bega Cheese," Mr Byrnes said.
"I know that I speak for not only the board, but all the management, staff, customers, shareholders and business colleagues of Bega Cheese in wishing Mick well and thanking him for all that he has done to help make Bega Cheese the unique and successful company that it is today," Mr Irwin said.
Mr Byrnes stepped down from his position on January 31.
