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Quality Meat Scotland
16/11/2010
A new chair and five new members have been appointed to the Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Board by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment.
Richard Lochhead confirmed the appointments today ahead of speaking at the Agriscot event tomorrow.
Current National Farmer's Union Scotland President Jim McLaren is to take over from Donald Biggar as the Chairman of QMS in April 2011. The other new board members, who will also join in April 2011, are John Scott, Johnny Mackey, David Sole and John Craig.
Alan McNaughton will join the Board immediately to fill the position left by Danny Miller, who resigned in February this year.
Mr Lochhead said:
"I am delighted to appoint Jim as the new chair and bring Alan, John, Johnny, David and John on to the board of Quality Meat Scotland. They will bring a wealth of expertise, experience and passion to the organisation.
"Quality Meat Scotland has an excellent track record of delivering real benefits for the Scottish red meat supply chain and it has been ably led by Donald and his board. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for all for their hard work.
"Jim's leadership at NFUS has been hugely positive for Scottish farming. I'm absolutely delighted that as that chapter comes to a close, the sector will continue to benefit from his talent and energy.
"In the past, there has been criticism that there are no women on the board and I'm disappointed that this is the case again. I know there are many women involved in the livestock industry who could make a valuable contribution and as a result, there will be a further round of appointments next year."
Outgoing chair, Donald Biggar said:
"I'm delighted that so many skilled applicants were interested in taking up these positions and I welcome the Cabinet Secretary's selection of very well qualified and able individuals.
"I'm sure I echo the sentiments of the other board members who are standing down in April when I say that the organisation is in great shape and I'm sure it will continue to contribute to a sustainable and prosperous red meat industry in Scotland.
"Quality Meat Scotland carries out a huge and diverse workload and the new board has a lot to look forward to being at the helm of a dynamic and hard-working organisation. We wish Jim and the new board every success."
Biographical Details
Jim McLaren: Age 43 and married with two sons, two daughters and two stepdaughters. Jim is a mixed arable and livestock farmer and runs a pedigree Simmental herd. His arable unit, growing winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, spring barley and land let out for potatoes, extends to 1000 acres in Perthshire. The business is a mix of full tenancy, limited partnership, owner-occupier and contract farming. He has other interests outside of mainstream farming, including a share in a retail dairy business. Jim served on the Milk Committee since 1999, holding the position of Chairman in 2003. He was also Chairman of Crieff Branch. Jim served as NFU Scotland Vice-President for the year 2006/2007 and then in February 2007, was elected President of NFU Scotland.
Alan McNaughton: Alan is the son of Perthshire farmer where his brother still farms. Alan joined the (now defunct) Fresh Meat Company in 1981 as a graduate trainee covering all meat plants in Scotland. In 1995 he moved to Grampian Country Food Group as Sales Director at McIntosh Donald, Portlethen, and became Managing Director in 2006. He is now site Director of McIntosh Donald, which is part of the Vion Food Scotland group. He is also chairman of Technical Advisory Committee and Standards Setting Body for the QMS Processor Assurance Scheme and a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the QMS Beef and Lamb Farm Assurance Scheme. Alan is currently senior Vice President of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers. Alan is 51 years old.
John Scott; John, aged 36, farms a mixed beef, sheep and arable farm in Tain, Ross-Shire in partnership with his wife Fiona and his parents, James and Janet. They have four young children, three of which are at the local primary where John is chair of the parent council. John is currently vice chairperson of the NFU livestock committee, a past director of the Royal Highland Show and a director of Hi-Health. A keen rugby man John coaches regularly and also finds time to write for farmingscotland.com and is a regular speaker on Moray Firth radio.
John Craig: John, aged 45, is married with 3 children. He is Operations Director with AK Stoddart, Broxburn. He joined the company in 1987 as a procurement officer and has been in his present post since 1995. John has served on both the QMS R&D committee and the Standards Setting Body for Farm Assurance. John was elected junior Vice President of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers in April 2009.
David Sole: David, who is aged 48, joined the world of executive coaching in January 2001 following a successful career with United Distillers and Diageo he joined the Change Partnership, the UK's leading executive coaching organisation just prior to the Whitehead Mann acquisition in February 2001. During his time there he ran the North Practice group before becoming head of Whitehead Mann's leadership development practice in June 2005. Two years later, he left to create his own coaching practice. David is well known in rugby circles, having won 44 caps for Scotland and 3 caps for the successful 1989 British and Irish Lions. He still holds the record for captaining Scotland. Highlights include winning a Grand Slam in 1990, made famous by his determined march onto the Murrayfield turf, in addition to leading Scotland to a semi-final of the rugby World Cup in 1991. David currently also holds a number of non-executive positions - he is one of only two external trustees of the HBOS Foundation and a board member of sportscotland. Previous positions have included roles as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Cargilfield School, non-executive director of Kilchoman Distillery and he has also had considerable involvement with the Prince's Trust Action.
Johnny Mackey: aged 34, Johnny graduated from Aberdeen University in 1998 with an Honours Degree in Biological Sciences of Agriculture. He joined NFUS in 1999 under their Graduate Trainee programme and held a number of posts within that organisation culminating in Livestock Policy Manager. From 2004 - 2008 he joined the Quality Meat Scotland Industry Development team and developed the Monitor Farms Programme and produced a number of Knowledge Transfer materials such as DVDs, CD ROMs and various written publications for the beef farming sector. Johnny has been Luing Breed Secretary since September 2008. Johnny is married to Susie (a vet) with two small boys and farms a beef and sheep farm in partnership with his wife outside Blairgowrie. Johnny is also a Director of Highland Glen Producers Ltd. and HI Health Ltd. as well as the Vice-Chair of the local Perth & Kinross Countryside Initiative. More recently Johnny was an advisor to the Pack Inquiry.
Neither the new chair nor the new board members have declared any political activities or affiliations.