Stuart McCullough is set to remain in the US after AWI cuts ties

One of the most prominent characters on the Australian agriculture scene has been made redundant as the employer quotes tough conditions.

The former head of Australian Wool Innovation Stuart McCullough is leaving the levy funded organisation after 23 years.

In a media statement released this afternoon AWI advised “the role of chief marketing and innovation officer held by Stuart McCullough has been made redundant”.

The statement said his role was created in October 2021 to “oversee a major restructure of AWI’s overseas operations, harnessing Mr McCullough’s extensive experience in the international markets of the wool industry”.

“Due to changed financial circumstances at AWI and the successful completion of Mr McCullough’s secondment overseas the role is no longer required.

“AWI thanks Mr McCullough for his hard work and dedication throughout his nearly 23 years of service at AWI.

“Mr McCullough will remain in the United States,” the statement concludes.

Mr McCullough, the former chief executive with AWI was seconded on October 15, 2021, stepping aside from his role as the head of the organisation to work internationally in a specially created role.

The Weekly Times reported in October last year that Mr McCullough’s role was expected to cease this month.

AWI chief executive John Roberts told The Weekly Times in October 2023 that Mr McCullough’s term of appointment – which has seen him based in London and the US – would run until April.

The role, which was never advertised, was criticised at the time as a “job for the boys” position.

In a performance review of AWI by the Australian National Audit Office, it was found there were no board resolutions in relation to the job’s creation, its remuneration or appointment process.

Mr McCullough was AWI’s CEO for 12 years, and was at the helm in 2017 when the “man in the mirror” scandal emerged, after then-chairman Wal Merriman observed a meeting of sheep breeders without them knowing, through a one-way mirror.

Mr Roberts said Mr McCullough had been based in Australia until February 2022 “to facilitate a smooth transition of the role of CEO”.

“The secondment part of the role commenced in February 2022 when he moved overseas, and that secondment will be completed in April 2024,” Mr Roberts said.

“The extension in time for the secondment was to allow for the completion of additional tasks including the consolidation of the broader international operations.”

Mr Roberts said that in his role as chief marketing and information officer, Mr McCullough made regular reports to the AWI board.

He said Mr McCullough had overseen a reduction in senior staff, use of consultants and office space to deliver “substantial savings”.

“There is better co-ordination of projects across Europe with the appointment of two regional managers rather than five country managers,” Mr Roberts said.

“While we do not attribute projects to individuals and regard them as team efforts, the regional teams have benefited from Stuart’s experience and are delivering marketing and product innovation projects that are aligned with our strategic objectives and are yielding for wool growers.”

Sheepvention 2011. Celebrity wool handling challenge. AWI CEO, Stuart McCullough goes up against AWI Chairman, Wal Merriman.

Meanwhile, the AWI annual report released in October last year showed the organisation had spent $82.1 million in the past financial year against revenue of $65.21 million.

Drawdown on reserves was about $17 million, with reserves at $83.8 million at the end of June this year, the lowest in a decade.

This comes as wool prices have continued to slide at auctions this year and growers face declining profitability.

AWI has also faced fresh barbs from peak grower representative group WoolProducers Australia this week over its spending of levy funds.

It has been accused of “burying” key market information about customers’ views on mulesing in “glossed over” reports.