AHDB names former NHS exec as new boss

Tom Taylor, currently chief executive at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, will take up his new role ‘early in the new financial year’.

He will replace current chief executive Kevin Roberts, who leaves to become NFU director general in April 2010.

Richard Lowe, a senior director at AHDB, has agreed to extend his notice period to become interim chief executive to fill the gap until Mr Taylor arrives. Mr Lowe will then also leave, as planned.

AHDB Chairman John Bridge said: “The Board and I are delighted we have someone of Tom’s calibre joining us.

“We’re coming out of a period of massive change as we build a new more efficient structure to address our levy-payers’ needs - his leadership skills and management experience will be critical in successfully completing this process.

Mr Bridge paid tribute to Mr Roberts, who has been chief executive since AHDB became operational in April 2008.

“The Board and I are very grateful for the tremendous job Kevin has done in setting up AHDB and bringing it to this point. We wish him well in his new role,” he said.

Mr Taylor said he was ‘really looking forward’ to joining an organisation with a ‘great reputation as a professional organisation with talented people’.

“I want to build on that by providing strategic leadership and vision to take it forward. This is a very important time in history for UK food and agriculture – I love challenges and I believe the team at AHDB can make a significant contribution to the industry’s future.”

Mr Taylor is a qualified accountant and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management and has a wealth of senior management and corporate governance experience across the public and private sectors.

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