Australian Food and Grocery Council announces new CEO

Industry lobby group the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has announced Colm Maguire (pictured) as its new Chief Executive Officer, after having acted in that role since January. 

Maguire has been with the organisation since July 2024, when he joined as Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary. 

In a statement on Friday, the AFGC said the appointment followed “an extensive search” by Touchstone Recruitment, and that the new CEO brought “extensive leadership experience across the not-for-profit, health, and sport sectors, including 10 years as the Chief Executive Officer of Touch Football Australia and more recently seven years at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia as a Group Executive and COO”.

The departure of previous CEO Tanya Barden was announced in January after seven years in the role, “as a result of a mutually agreed separation.” Maguire stepped up at the time as interim CEO.

The new CEO said on Friday that he is “humbled and energised” to be leading the food and grocery industry representative.

“When it comes to delivering for members, I believe the best results come from deliberate engagement, understanding and genuine partnership,” Maguire said. 

“I will lead with collaboration as a default – because that’s exactly what this industry needs to tackle the complex issues it faces amid rising global uncertainty.”

Picture: supplied

Further reading

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