New Orleans, La., USA - June 28, 2010, New Orleans, La., USA - Westway Group, Inc., a diversified company, announced the retirement of Peter J. M. Harding from his position as CEO and as a member of the board of the company.
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Prior to May 2009, Mr. Harding served as Managing Director of ED&F Man's Molasses & Palm Oil Trading, Feed Products, Third Party Storage, Biofuels Division from 2003. Mr. Harding also served on the Executive Committee of ED&F Man. He joined ED&F Man in June 1995.
Mr. Harding has diverse career experience beginning in 1972 as a Sugar Trader with Tate and Lyle Sugars. His accomplishments include Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Refined Sugars, Inc. from 1985 to 1989, CEO of Savannah Cocoa, Inc. from 1992 to 1995, CEO of ED&F Man North American Cocoa Processing Group from 1995 to 1997, CEO of Westway Holdings Corporation from 1997 to 2006, and President of Westway Terminal Company Inc. from 2001 to 2004. During his tenure as CEO of Westway Holdings Corporation, Mr. Harding was responsible for management of Westway Terminal Company Inc., Westway Feed Products, Inc., and Westway Trading Corp.
Additionally, Mr. Harding owned and managed an asset management firm and commodity fund during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1985, Mr. Harding attended the Harvard Business School program for Management Development.
The Board of Directors has appointed James B. Jenkins interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Jenkins has been a member of the Westway Board since May 2009.
Mr. Jenkins previously served as Managing Director of the ED&F Man Group's Commodity Services Division, an integrated research, brokerage and risk management operation, and as a member of ED & F Man's Executive Committee. Prior to his role at ED & F Man Commodity Services, Mr. Jenkins was President of ED & F Man Cocoa, Inc., a merchant of cocoa beans and released products. Mr. Jenkins has 26 years of service in the soft commodities industry. Mr. Jenkins is not related to Francis P. Jenkins, Jr., the company's Chairman. He will assume the role of interim CEO while maintaining his directorship of the Company. ■