Promotional body English Apples & Pears has announced Sir Ben Gill will become chairman of the company following the retirement of Robin Pooley at its agm in March.

Sir Ben, pictured, was president of the NFU from 1998 to 2004 when he achieved international recognition for his leadership during the foot and mouth crisis and as president of the confederation of European agriculture from 2000 to 2004. He was also a member of the executive committee of the international federation of agricultural producers.

Since retiring from the NFU, he has established his own business, Hawkhills Consultancy Ltd, which specialises in advising agrifood businesses on food, farming and renewable energy.

He continues to run his own farms in Yorkshire and Herefordshire.

Sir Ben said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity of working closely with the English apples and pears industry.

“There continue to be great challenges and the market is highly competitive, but the signs of a renaissance this season have been extremely encouraging. I look forward to building on the advances achieved by Robin Pooley and continuing to work for a secure and profitable future for growers.”

The board of EAP paid tribute to Pooley in a statement. “Robin Pooley has made a huge contribution to this organisation particularly in helping to improve its efficiency and developing greater cohesiveness throughout the industry. His leadership and advice have been of great benefit and we are enormously grateful to him.”

Pooley said: “I have enjoyed working with the industry during the last seven years and I should like to thank all our members for their great support. I am particularly pleased that results this season have indicated that the industry is stronger and with better prospects than for many years.

“I advised my fellow directors last June that I felt the time was right for me to step down. I shall miss the close involvement with the industry but I am delighted that Ben Gill, with whom I have worked closely in the past, will succeed me. I have no doubt he will help the industry to achieve even better results in the future.”

Topics