New NFU director general stranded in Jamaica

Kevin Roberts was due to begin his reign as the NFU’s new director general on Monday. But he is currently stuck in Jamaica, where he has been holidaying, with no immediate prospect of a flight home.

His plight, one shared by thousands of Brits abroad since the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud started wreaking havoc in British airspace, means the NFU will have to wait a little longer for a permanent replacement for Richard Macdonald.

Mr Roberts, the former chief executive of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) was announced as the NFU’s next director general before Mr Macdonald vacated the post in November 2009. But his commitments to AHDB meant he was unable to take up his NFU role until this month.

In his absence, Martin Haworth, who has taken on the role of acting director general in the interim period, again stood in for Mr Roberts during this week’s NFU council meeting.

One NFU source at the meeting said Mr Roberts was ‘embarrassed’ at the delay but added: “Then again, there are worse places to be stuck.”

Have your say

Please do not complete the following form field for security reasons.

Name

E-mail

Comment

Post as

Anonymously

Display name