Stead replaces Wally Newman, who has been chair since 2014. Browning replaces Simon Stead who was appointed as deputy chair in April last year. 

Both positions were elected by the CBH board and were up for election following grower director elections earlier this year.

Stead joined the CBH board as a Member Director in February 2015 and was appointed deputy chairman in April 2019.  He runs a mixed cropping, cattle and sheep operation in Cascade and Dalyup in the Esperance Zone in Western Australia.

Stead said he was proud and humbled to be appointed chair.

"The co-operative continues to be the best model for Western Australian growers to get their grain to critical export markets at the lowest cost and through a world class grain supply chain," Stead said.

"My strongest focus, as well as that of the Board is on the core of the business - our supply chain of storage, handling, marketing and trading - as we build the network to serve growers needs into the future." 

Newman has advised he will step down from the CBH board, effective immediately. 
Stead thanked Newman for his tireless work in advancing the interests of Western Australian growers and CBH during his 20 years on the Board, especially his last six years as chair.

He also acknowledged the current unprecedented situation stemming from COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. 

"I would like to assure all growers the CBH Board, management and employees are united and working tirelessly to navigate the cooperative through this situation," Stead said.

A former member of the Growers' Advisory Council, newly-elected deputy chair Browning joined the CBH board as a member director in February 2018. 

Browning runs a continuous cropping operation on her property in Kondinin, WA, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.