Graham Wilkinson to join AHDB as new CEO

[steveR]

I see the big change for him being that he now represents farmers more than the trade. this being based on who pays the majority of the levy.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

From Meatmanagement.com;

Bringing a farming background to the role​

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) welcomed AHDB’s announcement. A spokesperson for AIMS, Tony Goodger, said: “After many years of CEOs not coming from a farming background we welcome the announcement that Graham Wilkinson, currently global vice president – agriculture at Arla Foods, is to become the new CEO at AHDB.

“It has been our long held view that the CEO needed to be someone of industry stature and who has experience of both the production and processing side of farming.”

He continued: “AHDB has appeared to have been in a state of flux over the last couple of years and we trust that Graham will get it back onto the front foot in terms of championing the levy payer. He comes into the organisation at a critical time with the Farming Minister about to decide on whether the levy is increased, something which we urge him to do quickly as the longer he takes to decide the less planning time our members have for the next financial year.

“Reading various media stories about Graham’s work with Arla, especially in relation to bull calves and the beef supply chain we feel sure that he is person whom we can work well work and look forward to meeting with him at the earliest opportunity.”

 

[Chris F]

I agree with you but do you really believe this will be the case? Leopard and spots come to mind.

Well that is the job now. Farmers pay his wages and he is the head of an organisation to represent them. If he doesn't change then he won't be doing the job properly (in my opinion). He accepted the job for a reason and I'd hope that is to represent farmers.

 

[Chris F]

So having met Tim Rycroft (he obviously wasn't wearing his name badge at the time) would you care to enlighten us as to your opinion of his performance at the AHDB?

I think he failed. I saw very little real change in his tenure and since he is being paid by the AHDB not to come to work (or attend Red Tractor board meetings) then that would suggest to me that AHDB think he failed as well. I saw a lot of the same from him, business as usual. Which has in fairness worked for the past 10 years.

I said before the recruitment process started that the CEO needs to be farmers first and anything else second.

 

[Tamar]

About​

Farming has always been part of who I am, and from working with my grandparents and parents on the family farm,

Good luck to him.

He came from a family farm............ then completely shafted farmers in his role at Arla, Tesco etc...... now he has a year or two to sort AHDB for the benefit of farmers.

If it doesn't work, hopefully we will get a vote to scrap AHDB and he will get his P45 !!

 

[Andy Nash]

Good luck to him.

He came from a family farm............ then completely shafted farmers in his role at Arla, Tesco etc...... now he has a year or two to sort AHDB for the benefit of farmers.

If it doesn't work, hopefully we will get a vote to scrap AHDB and he will get his P45 !!

Would it be fair to say that he transformed a farmer owned cooperative working for its farmer members into a business working primarily for the multiples?
No one I know who sells milk to Arla feels like it is working for them any more.

 

[nonemouse]

Going to try swimming against the tide on this one, I’ve known Graham for best part of 30 years and think he still lives relatively local. I have a lot of respect for him and am saddened that arla have lost him, I would rate him as one of the good guys. Yes he plays the corperate game and speaks the bull sh!t required to get on in the modern world, but I would rather have him at the ahdb than some NFU plant.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Going to try swimming against the tide on this one, I’ve known Graham for best part of 30 years and think he still lives relatively local. I have a lot of respect for him and am saddened that arla have lost him, I would rate him as one of the good guys. Yes he plays the corperate game and speaks the bull sh!t required to get on in the modern world, but I would rather have him at the ahdb than some NFU plant.

Do you think he'll be able to work in farmers' best interests, and shrug off any previous corporate allegiances?

How is the CEO appointed? Do we know? Who does the appointing?

 

[egbert]

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has today announced the appointment of Graham Wilkinson as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Graham brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success from his time at Arla Foods as Global Vice President, Agriculture. During his extensive time at Arla working in both Global and UK roles, he has successfully supported over 8,500 cooperative farmer owners and managed the delivery of innovative commercial milk concepts on farm.

With his experience and knowledge of the supply chain, Graham created a leading European Agriculture Function within Arla, spanning seven markets. He has also worked in the retailer-side at Tesco PLC, where he strengthened the sustainability of agriculture supply chains in its dairy, beef, pork and poultry sectors.

Having worked throughout the supply chain for his whole career, agriculture has always been part of Graham’s life, working with his grandparents and parents on the family farm in the north east of England. He is a passionate leader and strong advocate of British Food and Farming.

Nicholas Saphir, Chair of AHDB commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Graham to AHDB with his passion for farming, his impressive leadership skills and vast industry knowledge.

“We believe he is the ideal candidate to lead AHDB into the next exciting phase of our growth, putting levy payers at the heart of our work and maximising the impact of the work we do. Thank you to Arla for supporting a smooth transition.”

Reflecting on his appointment, Graham Wilkinson said: “I am excited to join AHDB, an organisation that I have a deep appreciation for and huge respect for its fantastic team.

“My passion is working with farmers, for farmers and with my experience, I see this as a great opportunity to drive greater impact and success for all levy payers to help create a world class food and farming industry.”

Graham Wilkinson is set to leave Arla in the New Year, with the exact timing to be agreed between Arla and AHDB in the coming weeks. He replaces Tim Rycroft, who leaves AHDB in December 2023 after nearly two and a half very successful years.

'He replaces Tim Rycroft, who leaves AHDB in December 2023 after nearly two and a half very successful years'.



That wouldn't exactly be my analysis.

 

[Hammer]

£152,490 for the CEO and £545,000 total salary for the 5 AHDB executive staff (according to the AHDB website figures 2021- more now?). At least commodity prices are so good that we can all feel comfortably able to afford giving a bit away to pay towards this.

 

[Andy Nash]

Going to try swimming against the tide on this one, I’ve known Graham for best part of 30 years and think he still lives relatively local. I have a lot of respect for him and am saddened that arla have lost him, I would rate him as one of the good guys. Yes he plays the corperate game and speaks the bull sh!t required to get on in the modern world, but I would rather have him at the ahdb than some NFU plant.

I’m glad that he has some support here and I would be absolutely delighted to be proved wrong about him, but given the way Arla and Tesco interact with ordinary farmers and the massive disparity in power, I doubt it somehow.
Given his background, he has a big hill to climb and risks echoing Tim Rycroft’s ‘two and a half years of success’.

 

[delilah]

Going to try swimming against the tide on this one, I’ve known Graham for best part of 30 years and think he still lives relatively local. I have a lot of respect for him and am saddened that arla have lost him, I would rate him as one of the good guys. Yes he plays the corperate game and speaks the bull sh!t required to get on in the modern world, but I would rather have him at the ahdb than some NFU plant.

He has come into this job with a track record of repeatedly blaming enteric methane for climate change. A view he was obliged to hold at the time, seeing as his then employers wish to see the attention diverted away from fossil fuel use in the food chain.

Will he, in his first week in this new job, disown his previous stance for the crock of sh!t that it was, and state loud and clear that cows don't cause climate change ? If he does, great, he is one of ours. If he doesn't, he can feck off back where he came from.

 

[tepapa]

I suppose this is the clock startred on a cereals, beef and lamb ballot.

Give him 3 months to get a feel for the job and 6 months to actually make changes that help levy payers. Enough time to see where his loyalties lie. If he's still blaming cows for climate change and not actively fighting against the narrative and still pushing RT rather than help level the playing field for non assured produce then the AHDB will fail in his watch.

Time will tell.

 

[wanton dwarf]

Yup.

https://www.endsreport.com/article/1725233/cut-cow-emissions-slash-ghgs-says-dairy-cooperative

Graham Wilkinson is toast.

 

[principal skinner]

When did the people who pay the wages there (levy payers) vote for him? Yet another passenger on the gravy train I expect

 

[nonemouse]

So the TFF lynch mob have decided that he is the enemy, long before he even gets in post. Can I ask who should head up the AHDB? Bearing in mind to get the job they would have to be appointed by the existing structure.
I hear there is a beef farmer with experience of heading up a farmer organisation, looking for a new job. Do you think she would be a better fit?

 

[delilah]

So the TFF lynch mob have decided that he is the enemy, long before he even gets in post.

All criticism is constructive. Anyone applying for a job in high office will understand that. Mr Wilkinson will hopefully read this thread, sift the wheat from the chaff, and crack on with the job.

 

[egbert]

So the TFF lynch mob have decided that he is the enemy, long before he even gets in post. Can I ask who should head up the AHDB? Bearing in mind to get the job they would have to be appointed by the existing structure.
I hear there is a beef farmer with experience of heading up a farmer organisation, looking for a new job. Do you think she would be a better fit?

I hear there's someone who runs ...what was it? a wedding venue/conference centre?...who'll be looking for a new job.
(I believe she owns some cows)
Jeez. No thanks.

 

[SilliamWhale]

So the TFF lynch mob have decided that he is the enemy, long before he even gets in post. Can I ask who should head up the AHDB? Bearing in mind to get the job they would have to be appointed by the existing structure.
I hear there is a beef farmer with experience of heading up a farmer organisation, looking for a new job. Do you think she would be a better fit?

No enemy.

But that is already quite an about turn he has to do if is previous beliefs were that he could shove his last companys Ghg emissions down as scope 3 belonging to livestock farmers. That is the very thing that farmers are being abused over . If he can't about turn then farmers are f**ked as we have a huge burden to carry and you will be shoving a lot of amendments at your costs into your ruminants bellies and even then if he does about turn it shows how flexible his values are too. I'm only going on what he has previously stated.

 

[wanton dwarf]

So the TFF lynch mob have decided that he is the enemy, long before he even gets in post. Can I ask who should head up the AHDB? Bearing in mind to get the job they would have to be appointed by the existing structure.
I hear there is a beef farmer with experience of heading up a farmer organisation, looking for a new job. Do you think she would be a better fit?

Well there's a statement.

AHDB does not support UK Agriculture - it's that simple. Been that way for at least a decade probably two.

This appointment moves AHDB further into Supermarket & Processor influence & motives.

UK Agriculture is practically dead with all organisations focused on regressive practices in Net Zero, markets, processing, regulation, culture & research.


Batters is a prime example for what not to do & be - cloak & dagger of the worst kind.