JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Astral Foods, a large integrated poultry company in South Africa, announced last week that Chris Schutte plans to retire as the company’s chief executive officer.

The company said Schutte’s last day in his position will be Jan. 30, 2025.

“Although we are saddened by Chris’ decision, we respect his request for retirement with the utmost understanding and sympathy for his personal and family circumstances,” said Theuns Eloff, non-executive director of Astral Foods. “Chris has been a poultry man for 41 years, steadfastly serving the South African poultry industry. Chris has been at the helm, leading Astral for the past 16 years, at the same time achieving recognition as one of the longest-serving CEOs of a listed JSE company.

“Chris has a very special set of management and board skills, with a wealth of knowledge in the poultry industry.”

Astral said Schutte will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 next year but will continue to consult for the business in 2025. In this role, Schutte plans to focus on a smooth transition and stakeholder engagement while providing strategic insight to the Astral executive team (Exco) and the board of directors.

“I have always involved my Exco in our dealing with a myriad of stakeholders and this well-established team is highly experienced and regarded as best in industry,” Schutte said. “I am confident that I am handing over to a competent team who are willing and able to take the group forward in the next phase of Astral’s growth journey.”

Schutte began working for Astral Foods in 2002 when he worked as regional sales manager for Meadow Foods, one of the company’s subsidiaries. Then, in 2004, Schutte was promoted to managing director of the feed division for Astral. He joined the board of directors for Astral in 2006 and was named CEO in 2009.

The company said, “Following the worst financial period in the group’s history for the year ended 30 September 2023, Astral is currently in a solid and healthy financial position. This is due to the successful implementation of a focused turnaround strategy in the 2024 financial year.”