Walker to head NFU Scotland

AN INTERNAL promotion announced yesterday by NFU Scotland sees their current policy director Scott Walker appointed as chief executive. He takes over from current holder, James Withers who moves to the Scotland Food and Drink organisation early next month.

Walker has been with NFUS for 17 years and has progressed through a number of roles, starting as commodity director in 1994. He has headed up the Union's policy team since 2004.

Commenting on the appointment, Union president Nigel Miller said they had been looking for someone with exceptional talent and Walker fitted the bill.

"Some commentators may wonder why the process was required at all, when - for the second time in a row - the successful candidate was sitting in the same office," he said.

"In order for the new chief executive to have credibility and a clear mandate, it was essential that they were the best of the best from a field of more than 40 candidates from the UK and beyond."

Looking forward to his new role, Walker said that in today's changing economic environment it was important that Scottish agriculture had a strong voice in both political and commercial circles.

"NFU Scotland has built a strong and growing reputation for identifying workable and pragmatic solutions to the problems that face our members."

Walker will be the tenth chief executive of the Union which celebrates its centenary in 2013.