December 14 - Toll Group has announced the impending retirement of long-time head of strategy, M & A, Stephen Stanley, effective 30 June 2012.

"Stephen Stanley joined Toll Group in 1999 and has led the successful Toll internal Strategy and M&A team since that time," said Toll's managing director elect, Brian Kruger.

"Stephen has been a key member of Toll's senior executive team for more than a decade during which time the company has cemented its position as a leading global industry player. It's fair to say that Stephen has been integral in the development of one of the most comprehensive acquisition strategies in Australian corporate history.

"Acquisition, integration and strong organic growth have been the three outstanding hallmarks of the Toll strategy over the last decade.

"The bold transition of an Australian company into a major international group is a credit to a range of great Toll personnel and Stephen can certainly be proud of the key role both he and his team played in the globalisation of Toll," Mr Kruger said.

Toll said some of the highlights include: Acquiring a half share in the key rail assets of Pacific National; Completing the Patrick acquisition gave us an unparalleled capacity to provide integrated logistics solutions to our customers; Acquiring NZ Rail presented us with a significant presence in that country for the first time; Acquiring Sembcorpproviding a major presence in Asia and acquiring BALtrans and Summit and the foundation of its Global Forwarding Division.

"Toll is very grateful for the significant contribution Stephen has made to the senior team and we wish him well for his future endeavours," Mr Kruger concluded.