Beef producer Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) has appointed its current general manager of marketing, Jason Strong, as its new chief executive. "Since 2012, Jason has had responsibility for AACo's branded beef group, driving significant profit growth through improved efficiency," AACo chairman Donald McGauchie said in a statement on Friday. "Jason has spearheaded a range of marketing and supply chain initiatives, and has been responsible for developing strategies for selling the offtake of the company's Darwin abattoir, which is scheduled to commence production in the second half of 2014." Mr Strong, who joined AACo in November 2012, replaces David Farley who retired from AACo last July. AACo shares were 1.25 cents higher at $1.2375 at 1253 AEDT.