Sugar beet campaign 2024: BBRO announces changes to its team
23rd September 2024
The British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO) has announced a number of changes to its team, with the aim to continue delivering valuable insights and shape the future of the company.
BBRO is a non-profit making company funded jointly by British Sugar and UK sugar beet growers.
Its aim is to commission and communicate research to increase the competitiveness and profitability of the UK beet industry in a sustainable and environmentally acceptable manner.
The company has just confirmed the appointment of professor Mark Stevens as its interim head.
BBRO director Dan Green commented on the news: “We are delighted that Mark has agreed to lead BBRO for the foreseeable future.
“He is a true expert in our industry, and his long and distinguished career, first at Brooms Barn and subsequently at the BBRO, will ensure the BBRO maintains its excellent reputation for research and knowledge exchange.
“Growers can be confident Mark will continue to deliver excellent science and valuable insight into the industry, which helps them minimise inputs and maximise yields.”
Shaping the future of BBRO
In the meantime, BBRO directors also announce that Colin MacEwan, who led the BBRO from 2011 to 2017, will take a strategic role supporting them in shaping the long-term future of BBRO.
Mr MacEwan will also become chair of the RL Board and chair of BBRO’s Executive Board when Mike May retires from these positions at the end of this year.
BBRO director Simon Smith added: “Colin’s knowledge of the BBRO, domestic sugar beet sector, and wider experience means he is ideally placed to support the directors in the coming months, and to take on the critical roles of chairing the RL Board and BBRO Executive Board in due course.”
READ MORE: Sugar beet growers begin harvest for 2024/25 campaign
READ MORE: Two sugar beet factories open as 2024/25 campaign begins
New directors
Dr James Northen, head of NFU Sugar, and Dan Stoneman, BBRO’s company secretary and head of agriculture finance at British Sugar plc, have become directors of BBRO with immediate effect. This takes the number of BBRO directors to six.
There are also two other NFU Sugar directors, Michael Sly, chair of the NFU Sugar Board, and Simon Smith, vice-chair of the NFU Sugar Board, as well as two British Sugar directors, Keith Packer, managing director, and Dan Green, agriculture director.
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