Agrana CEO Johann Marihart to retire, to be succeeded by Markus Mühleisen

Agrana has announced the appointment of Arla Foods executive Markus Mühleisen to the role of group CEO from June, following the retirement of long-serving CEO Johann Marihart.

The Austrian ingredients producer reported that Mühleisen will serve as CEO for three years from 1 June 2021, succeeding Marihart who will retire on 31 May 2021 after nearly three decades in the role.

Since 2018, Mühleisen has served as head of Arla Foods Germany. Prior to this, he has held numerous senior positions at Nestlé and General Mills.

“I am delighted about the appointment of Markus Mühleisen. He has acted successfully in diverse management positions and has considerable international experience in the food and luxury food industry. Markus Mühleisen will ambitiously strive to continue the successful development of Agrana,” said Agrana chairman, Erwin Hameseder.

Marihart started working at Agrana nearly 45 years ago, first at the sugary refinery in Leopoldsdorf, before moving onto the potato starch mill in Gmünd, the former Österreichische Agrar-Industrie on 1 July 1976.

During the course of the merger of Österreichische Agrar-Industrie with the re-organised sugar industry, Marihart became a founding board member of Agrana Beteiligungs-AG in 1988.

He served as CEO since 1991 and has overseen the expansion of the company into a processor of agricultural products in fruit, starch and sugar segments operating on all continents. 

“The successful development of Agrana has been closely linked to Johann Marihart. Under his leadership, Agrana grew to become a successful international industrial player. Revenues have increased seven-fold during the Marihart era,” said Hameseder.

“Besides the successful expansion in Europe, one of his other major achievements has been establishing the fruit division. He was central to the company establishing a further division for diversification purposes – a strategy which has paid off particularly during difficult economic times and one which makes Agrana fit for the future,” he added.