Agra says goodbye to Peter Kazmaier

“His guidance and management of Agra can be considered as one of the largest contributions to agriculture by an individual after independence.” With these words James Chapman summed up Peter Kazmaier’s career of twenty years at Agra. Agra management, board members and invited guests said goodbye to Peter Kazmaier as CEO of Agra at a farewell party in Windhoek on 28 October. Kazmaier, who retired on 31 October, served as CEO for twenty years.
Chapman, who was the Chairman of the Board of Agra in 1995 when Kazmaier was appointed, shared with the guests the board’s decision to appoint Kazmaier. The board at that time had a very important task to appoint the right person as CEO. They knew exactly the magnitude of the task that lied ahead for him at Agra, which was in the tough world of trade with 5 000 members who, for shares of N$50 each, all had a say, needs and requirements. “There were no soft loans, no infant protection, but members’ desires for improvement and change and financial demands,” Chapman explained. He commended the way in which Kazmaier and his team provided in the needs of clients and shareholders with that which was financially achievable.
“He started as an outsider with no experience of or exposure to the agricultural sector”, said Ryno van der Merwe, current Chairman of the Board, in his farewell message. Van der Merwe said that despite this and the complexity of Agra’s business, Agra was turned around and guided to grow from a turnover of N$413 million and a nett loss before tax of N$2,3 million in the 1995/1996 financial year to a turnover of N$1,3 billion and net profit before tax of N$55 million in 2014/2015. Van der Merwe described Kazmaier as “a person who was loyal and dedicated and who always put Agra first. Today Agra is a respected and important role player in the Namibian economy, which was achieved under your leadership”, he said as he wished Kazmaier a happy retirement.
Good retirement wishes also came from the Swakara (Karakul) Board of Namibia through their chairperson Raimar von Hase. He shared the desperate times that the Swakara industry went through and that Agra never let them down through all the tough times.


. . . and welcomes Arnold Klein as new CEO
Arnold Klein, who took over the position as Chief Executive Officer of Agra on 1 November, is already well underway with his endeavours to take Agra to further heights. “I can look back and take pride in what we have achieved as a team lead by Peter as our CEO and I am committed to take Agra to even greater heights,” Arnold said at his predecessor's farewell function.
Arnold is a born and bred Namibian who grew up on a farm between Maltahöhe and Helmeringhausen and is also a successful part-time farmer. He qualified as an Agricultural Economist with an Honours Degree obtained in 1991.
In his career he gained extensive experience in the agricultural sector, focusing on agricultural policies, production economics, food security and international trade as agricultural economist in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and as Manager: Executive Council Affairs at the Namibia Agricultural Union. With a passion for the agribusiness environment Arnold became well acquainted with the challenges and opportunities within Namibian agriculture through his interaction with agricultural producers, suppliers, government institutions and parastatals.
He entered the world of agribusiness as General Manager of Hardap Co-operative in 1996 and held the position for seven years before being appointed as General Manager: Retail and Wholesale at Agra.
Arnold joined Agra in October 2003 and has served in the position as General Manager: Retail and Wholesale for the period until his appointment as CEO. In this period of 12 years, the Agra Retail and Wholesale division has had to address various challenges and take a number of difficult decisions and drastic steps to ensure the future of Agra as business and important role player in Agriculture. The recruitment process for the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer for Agra commenced in November 2014 and in June 2015, the Board announced that Arnold has been selected to fill the position.
Besides Arnold’s responsibilities in the Retail and Wholesale Division, he was also appointed to act as General Manager: Livestock for a period of 18 months in 2010 and 2011 in order to stabilise and lead the division through a phase of rapid change and uncertainty, whilst maintaining its profitability and customer base.
Agra’s vision under the leadership of Arnold remains to be a resource of growth, living the purpose of creating prosperity and improving quality of life. Upcoming developments that Agra will open in the near future, and the first in Arnold’s time of being CEO, will be a new retail branch in Rundu and various DIY depots.
“Agra’s strategic focus and core business will remain our service to the agricultural industry,” says Arnold about Agra’s future under his reign. “My aim is to work towards the point where Agra’s value and achievements are reflected in our share price. I want the current shareholders of Agra, who are mainly the agricultural producers of Namibia, to enjoy the benefits of a growing Agra and a growing share price.”