NEW AHDB CEO APPOINTED

[llamedos]

JANE KING has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).


Ms King, a former Editor and Editorial Director of the Farmers Weekly Group, will take up her position at the Stoneleigh-based levy board on 1 February, replacing Tom Taylor who left at the end of November 2014.


During her time at Farmers Weekly, Jane oversaw a complete repositioning of the title, revitalising its products, developing new services and overseeing organisational change.


As a senior executive at Reed Business Information (RBI) for over 30 years, Jane also has significant experience providing information and services to a range of industries as diverse as retail, health, social care, employment law and hospitality.


AHDB Chairman, Sir Peter Kendall, said: “Jane has enormous knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for our industry and the Board and I are delighted to welcome her to AHDB.


“Her communication skills and experience of both repositioning and leading a well-known agricultural service brand through a period of change means she will be able to lead AHDB through an important period as it works towards becoming a centre of excellence for the UK industry.”


Ms King said: “I am hugely excited and feel extremely privileged to be leading the AHDB through the next stage of its development. UK agriculture is at a turning point and I believe it has enormous potential.


“The AHDB is an organisation with phenomenal talent and resources supporting farmers, growers and the wider supply chain. I'm really looking forward to driving AHDB forward with the team and the wider industry.”


Mick Sloyan, a senior director at AHDB, is currently Acting Chief Executive at AHDB until Ms King takes up her post.


AHDB is a UK-wide Levy Board primarily funded by farmers, growers and others in the supply chain through statutory levies. Established in 2008, it supports the following industries: meat and livestock (cattle, sheep and pigs) in England; horticulture, milk and potatoes in Great Britain; and cereals and oilseeds in the UK. The AHDB’s remit covers 75% of total UK agricultural output. Further information on AHDB can be found at http://www.ahdb.org.uk/

 

[gone up the hill]

You really couldn't make it up!!

She was a complete failure at the REED group! All she managed to do with the FW is turn the magazine into a joke/ Glorified Woman's Magazine and it is all but totally irrelevant to the industry now and the only thing its good for is to start the log fire!!

Clearly needs to be transparent how people get jobs at the AHDB so it needs to be shown who/ how she was selected for the job as it smacks of jobs for the in crowd and a gravy train for these people...

Also clearly needs to be a open debate about AHDB and its role going forward.

Ps : be a good idea to rename the thread with Jane King mentioned as it might generate more intrest when people realize just who has been appointed..

 

[Princess Pooper]

So who does GUTH think should be CEO at AHDB? The post was publicly advertised and as it is regarded as a public sector appointment, the process is transparent.

 

[gone up the hill]

So who does GUTH think should be CEO at AHDB? The post was publicly advertised and as it is regarded as a public sector appointment, the process is transparent.

Jobs like this are normally given to someone before they even advertise it publicly.. ( ie : the quango would approach someone and offer them the job before advertising it )

I cant see what JK has done in her past career that makes her even remotely qualified for this job!! no way you can say what she has done with the Farmers weekly can be deemed a success!!

Not for me to say who should have got the role but plenty of people far more qualified/ experienced and who would have bought much more to the role than JK will ever do!

 

[An Gof]

Jobs like this are normally given to someone before they even advertise it publicly.. ( ie : the quango would approach someone and offer them the job before advertising it )

I cant see what JK has done in her past career that makes her even remotely qualified for this job!! no way you can say what she has done with the Farmers weekly can be deemed a success!!

Not for me to say who should have got the role but plenty of people far more qualified/ experienced and who would have bought much more to the role than JK will ever do!

But perhaps they didn't apply

 

[gone up the hill]

But perhaps they didn't apply

Very unlikely that at least one person who is far more qualified and would have bought more to the role than JK didn't apply... after all what will it be, 2/3 days a week on prob 100k a year??

We need professional people to be in charge of an organisation like this, not a failed magazine editor!!

 

[neilo]

Very unlikely that at least one person who is far more qualified and would have bought more to the role than JK didn't apply... after all what will it be, 2/3 days a week on prob 100k a year??

We need professional people to be in charge of an organisation like this, not a failed magazine editor!!

While I would agree with your analysis of what she managed to do at FW, I'm shocked that you haven't blamed the AHDB Chairman for her appointment.

 

[gone up the hill]

While I would agree with your analysis of what she managed to do at FW, I'm shocked that you haven't blamed the AHDB Chairman for her appointment.

I was hoping someone else will do that

 

[Princess Pooper]

Not for me to say who should have got the role but plenty of people far more qualified/ experienced and who would have bought much more to the role than JK will ever do!

but do they want it? After all, all that happens in this sort of job is people take pot shots at you who have no idea what the job entails (it is full time by the way).

Having been involved in AHDB and other public sector appointments - both as a candidate and an interviewer - I can assure you that things are not as corrupt as you seem to think.

 

[gone up the hill]

but do they want it? After all, all that happens in this sort of job is people take pot shots at you who have no idea what the job entails (it is full time by the way).

Having been involved in AHDB and other public sector appointments - both as a candidate and an interviewer - I can assure you that things are not as corrupt as you seem to think.

For the lower rank jobs in quangos/ public sector etc then I agree that the jobs procedure will all be above board but for the very top jobs such as the one that JK has been giving then im afraid the reality is quite different from what you have personally experienced!

 

[An Gof]

For the lower rank jobs in quangos/ public sector etc then I agree that the jobs procedure will all be above board but for the very top jobs such as the one that JK has been giving then im afraid the reality is quite different from what you have personally experienced!

Please furnish us with your personal experiences of such high level appointments. Were you part of an interview board? Did you shortlist applicants for similar CEO positions?
What actual input and experience do you have in the appointment of senior managers, directors and CEO's?

Or is it just all hearsay?

 

[gone up the hill]

Please furnish us with your personal experiences of such high level appointments. Were you part of an interview board? Did you shortlist applicants for similar CEO positions?
What actual input and experience do you have in the appointment of senior managers, directors and CEO's?

Or is it just all hearsay?

All from people that actually have done the hiring/ interviewing for both the higher/ lower grade jobs in the civil service/ quangos etc..

Do you think that JK is really qualified/ has any experience with such a high profile role/ has done such a good job with the FW etc that she is the best person for this job??

 

[An Gof]

All from people that actually have done the hiring/ interviewing for both the higher/ lower grade jobs in the civil service/ quangos etc..

Do you think that JK is really qualified/ has any experience with such a high profile role/ has done such a good job with the FW etc that she is the best person for this job??

I have met JK whilst on a WCoF course. However that does not mean i have enough information to have an opinion on her ability for the role one way or another. In the meantime i will reserve judgement until she has been able to demonstrate her abilities and competence. It's a bit unfair to pass judgement before she has even started.
CEO of AHDB is quite a demanding role and is certainly not a part time position. I think JK will bring a new approach which will hopefully prove to be a good thing. No doubt she will have a steep learning curve in dealing with the SoS and DEFRA civil servants.

 

[gone up the hill]

I have met JK whilst on a WCoF course. However that does not mean i have enough information to have an opinion on her ability for the role one way or another. In the meantime i will reserve judgement until she has been able to demonstrate her abilities and competence. It's a bit unfair to pass judgement before she has even started.
CEO of AHDB is quite a demanding role and is certainly not a part time position. I think JK will bring a new approach which will hopefully prove to be a good thing. No doubt she will have a steep learning curve in dealing with the SoS and DEFRA civil servants.

What type of new approach so you think she will bring to the role?

 

[An Gof]

What type of new approach so you think she will bring to the role?

One that is different from the previous incumbents