Willbriggie rice grower Glen Andreazza was the only new face elected to the 10-person board when the last vote was counted last Tuesday.

Laurie Arthur, Mark Robertson and Alan Walsh – who have a combined 29 years’ experience on the SunRice board – were all returned for four more years.

Fellow candidates Scott Hogan, Dick Thompson, Peter O’Connor, John Bradford and Julian Menegazzo missed out on the post vacated by the retired Norm McAllister.

SunRice chairman Gerry Lawson said the results signified a vote of confidence in the board, which had come under intense scrutiny during the failed Ebro takeover bid earlier in the year.

“I want to commend all of the outstanding candidates who offered themselves for election,” Mr Lawson said.

“We have always had a strong and cohesive board that works incredibly hard to do what’s best for our company, our shareholders and the regional communities that rely on us.

“We will continue this path and look forward to working with both our new and re-elected directors on the way forward.”

Mr Andreazza, who was unveiled as the company’s newest director at its annual general meeting in Jerilderie on Friday, said he was delighted to be elected.

“I think the first six to 12 months is definitely going to be a steep learning curve and it’s going to be listening and learning the ropes,” he said.

“I’m not saying I won’t be vocal or pushing certain points of view if I have them. I think the industry needs stability at the moment more than disruption.”

Mr Andreazza said the result indicated shareholders had confidence in essentially the same board that successfully negotiated the company through the drought to do the same in the post-Ebro environment.

“It’s definitely a vote of confidence for the board,” he said. “I really think the people who voted, voted with their heads and thought about this one.”

A seat on the SunRice board became twice as lucrative last year when shareholders voted to increase directors’ salaries from as little as $32,000 to as much as $69,000.

Despite the company having a $300 million debt hanging over its head, Mr Lawson’s chairman salary also increased from $81,332 to $138,000.

– The Area News