Schumann’s exit on June 5 was announced in a letter to Angus members from the association’s board of directors. Richard Wilson, the certified financial officer for AAA, was named as interim CEO after Schumann’s departure.
Eric Grant, director of public relations for the AAA, says the board hired the executive search firm Witt/Kieffer to assist in the search for a new CEO and a list of information about candidates will be shortly available.
Grant adds further that the association and its entities, Certified Angus Beef, Angus Productions Inc., the Angus Foundation and Angus Genetics Inc., “are all currently operating in the black. Consolidated assets topped $56 million in June, and registrations are tracking about 7 percent larger than last year at this time. Angus bull prices reported to the association continue at very strong levels, averaging $6,700 on 43,600 head through the end of June.”
Schumann received the endorsement of the Angus board of trustees in early April 2014, after a group of 15 association employees expressed criticism of Schumann and asked for his removal as CEO. The board began its own investigation into the complaints, but voted to stand by Schumann. He then interviewed all signors of the letter, and in the end, 12 employees – including six regional managers – were dismissed.
Schumann was employed at the St. Joseph, Missouri-based association for 15 years. Asked if there was any change in the board’s support for Schumann, Grant said he had no comment since he was not privy to that information.
Art Butler, an owner at Spring Cove Ranch and registered Angus producer, says Schumann’s decision to terminate the regional managers had created “dissention and dissatisfaction” in the Angus membership. “Hopefully that’s gotten rectified. Time heals all wounds, and from what one of the directors told me, they’re pulling in the same direction.”
Grant says no expected date or time of year has been announced for when the association will have a new CEO in place. 
