Our people
The Pentarch Group places considerable emphasis on leadership, responsibility and accountability and is committed to developing the skills and career paths of its employees. Creating a rewarding, challenging and safe workplace for all our people is one of our highest priorities.
We foster a performance-driven culture throughout the group and reward performance against stated objectives through incentive schemes.
Our TEAM
Simon Yuncken
Executive Director
Prior to joining Pentarch, Simon practised as a chartered accountant, developing commercial expertise in an array of industries. Commencing with the Pentarch Group in 1997 as Chief Financial Officer, Simon gained an in-depth knowledge of the groups’ various operating divisions and was responsible for the implementation of effective systems, policies and procedures to facilitate the Groups’ continual growth. In January 2014 Simon was elevated to the role of Group Chief Executive Officer and in 2021 appointed as an Executive Director.
Malcolm McComb
Chairman
Malcolm is the Chairman of the Pentarch Holdings Board of Directors. He joined the Pentarch Group in 1987. Formerly the Group Chief Executive Officer, he has had a strong strategic and operational involvement in the establishment and development of both the Agricultural and Forestry divisions with a particular emphasis on marketing and shipping aspects within each division.
As Chairman of the Pentarch Group of companies, Malcolm is responsible for the Board of Directors, including providing leadership and guidance on the governance and direction of the Pentarch Group.
Ian Sedger
Director
Ian is a Director of the Pentarch Group with specialist knowledge in the Forest Products division. Ian joined the Group in 1993 after gaining experience in the plantation and forestry industry in Australia. Ian has been responsible for the development of resources in Australia and the marketing of various species into the countries of Asia and has had a particular interest in the development of the Chinese market for forest products. He is also versed in the various aspects of international trade and supply chain dynamics.
Stephen Dadd
Executive Director
Stephen recently joined the Pentarch Group having previously run Boral’s National Building Products Division. Stephen started at Boral in 2003 and worked in a range of executive roles across Boral’s Timber and Building Products businesses. Prior to Boral, Stephen was a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group for 9 years and before that worked in the sugar industry as a production Engineer with CSR. Stephen is a director of Forest and Wood Products Australia and Australian Forest and Wood Products Association. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering, an MBA from the London Business School and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Fraser Cuthbertson
Chief Financial Officer
Before joining Pentarch, Fraser oversaw a range of business projects in Australia and the UK. Fraser joined the Pentarch Group over 7 years ago as the Group Financial Controller before stepping into the CFO role in January 2014. Fraser is responsible for overall financial and administrative management of the Group including the key areas of Treasury, Reporting, Forecasting, IT, Legal, HR, Tax, Capital Management and Risk.
Fraser has extensive experience across the operational, commercial and financial aspects of all three divisions of the Pentarch Group.
Bill Castlemain
Director Pentarch Agricultural
Bill has vast commercial experience across a range industries and disciplines including the agricultural sector, where he has spent the last 25 years. As CEO of Pentarch Agricultural his responsibilities are focused on the strategic direction and compliance for the division. Bill has been a director of Pentarch Farms, Narrogin Hay and Pentarch Grains since inception and has been involved operationally in the development of these business units.
Paul Heubner
Chief Executive Officer Pentarch Forestry
Paul has more than two decades’ experience in forestry. In 2000, Paul migrated from South Africa to Australia to join Pentarch Forestry as a Shipping Operations Manager and developed through a number of roles in the company including Chartering Manager and GM of Shipping and Marketing. In 2008 Paul was appointed General Manger for Pentarch Forestry and in September 2016 Paul was elevated to the role of CEO of the Pentarch Forestry Division. Paul is tasked with managing all forestry related operations and reports to the Pentarch Forestry Board of Directors.
James Whiteside
Chief Executive Officer Pentarch Agricultural
Prior to joining Pentarch in May 2023, James had a 23 year career with Incitec Pivot Limited, Australian agriculture’s largest input supplier, and a significant manufacturer of chemicals for agriculture and mining. He spent five years as the Chief Operating Officer of Incitec Pivot Fertilisers, and was Chief Executive Officer of Quantum Fertilisers, a Hong Kong based joint venture fertiliser trading company. Upon leaving IPL in 2016 he was appointed CEO of AUSVEG, the Peak Industry Body representing Australia’s horticulture growers and most recently was CEO of Wingara AG Ltd, a listed agribusiness. James is also a Director of Verdant Minerals Pty Ltd.