Board of Directors and Company Secretary
Our Board is led by Steve Ellwood, the Chairman. Board members have a collective responsibility and legal obligation to promote the interests of the company and are collectively responsible for defining corporate governance arrangements. The Company Secretary acts as a trusted advisor to the Chair and the Board, assisting by preparing for effective Board meetings, including the timely dissemination of appropriate information. On governance matters the Company Secretary reports directly to the Chairman.
The Board is supported by three subcommittees (a) Audit and Risk, (b) Remuneration, and (c) Nominations. Biographical details of the Board of Directors, key skills and committee membership are shown below.
Board Approach to Risk Management
The Group aims to mitigate the risks it faces as we seek to create sustainable growth over the medium to long-term by adopting an approach that is appropriate to the business activities being conducted and the scale of the enterprise. The Board retain overall responsibility for reviewing risk management strategies and this statement provides information about the exposure to the main identified risks and the controls in place to mitigate against these issues.
The executive directors work closely with the non-executive directors who provide oversight and scrutiny in this area to ensure that risk management is appropriately aligned with commercial strategy. The Board utilises a risk register which is regularly considered for changing circumstances. In all businesses, there are some risks and uncertainties which are not able to be fully controlled. Whilst all companies are subject to some financial risk, the Group continues to have a strong balance sheet and low gearing which are priorities for the Board. For further information on Principal Risks and Uncertainties, see the latest Annual Report and Accounts.
Steve Ellwood
Chairman
Appointed as chairman in 2021, with significant experience of the UK agricultural sector, having previously been Head of Agriculture at HSBC for 10 years, and Head of Food and Agriculture at Smith & Williamson. He holds non-executive directorship positions at: NIAB Group, the crop science and research organization; AH Worth, the fresh produce group, where he is Chairman; and Velcourt, the international farm management group.
 |
Nominations Committee - Chair |  |
Mergers & Acquisitions |
 |
Remuneration Committee |  |
Strategy & Leadership |
 |
Sector Experience |  |
Finance |
Steven Esom
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Steven joined the board in 2023, and has extensive senior-level experience in the UK food and retailing industries and significant experience of the UK agricultural sector. Whilst Managing Director of Waitrose & Partners, he regularly engaged with farmers and was involved with the oversight of Waitrose-owned farmlands. He also sits as the Chairman of Sedex, a leading global supply chain consultancy focused on environmental, social and governance ("ESG") outcomes, which operates the world's largest data platform for supply chain assessment.
|
Remuneration Committee - Chair | |
Mergers & Acquisitions |
 |
Audit Committee | |
Strategy & Leadership |
|
Nominations Committee |  |
Sales & Marketing |
 |
Corporate Governance |
Catherine Bradshaw
Independent Non-Executive Director
Catherine joined the Board in July 2021. As a qualified chartered accountant, Catherine has over 20 years' experience in financial and general management roles, primarily in the food industry. Currently Director of Reporting and Controls at Cranswick Plc, a leading UK food producer with revenue of almost £2.6 billion. Previously she was Group Financial Controller of Greencore Group plc, a leading manufacturer of convenience food in the UK, having joined the FTSE 250 listed business in 2015. Prior to this, she worked in senior financial positions at Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, the supermarket group, and Northern Foods plc, the food manufacturer. She qualified as a chartered accountant at KPMG in 2000.
|
Audit Committee - Chair | |
Mergers & Acquisitions |
|
Remuneration Committee | |
Strategy & Leadership |
|
Finance |
Howell John Richards
Independent Non-Executive Director
Howell joined the Board in July 2014. He holds significant experience of the agricultural industry and has a wide understanding of the commercial issues and challenges in UK farming today. With expertise in the livestock sector and has established one of the largest dairy farms in the UK, Cwrt Malle Farm, with a herd of over 2,500 milking cows. While farming, he also worked for Kemira Fertilisers (now GrowHow UK Limited, the leading UK fertiliser manufacturer and a major supplier to the process chemicals industry), promoting grassland and arable products to farmers, with a particular focus on the dairy sector. An active voice within the UK dairy industry, speaking at industry events and mentoring young entrants into dairy farming.
| |
Audit Committee | |
Strategy & Leadership |
|
Remuneration Committee | |
Sector Experience |
Gareth Wynn Davies
Non-Executive Director
Joined Wynnstay in 1999 as Sales Manager for South Wales and became Head of Agriculture in 2008, later serving as Chief Executive Officer from 2018 to 2024. Significant knowledge of the UK agriculture supply industry. Clear understanding of commercial agriculture and primary food production, A Non-Executive Director at Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales, the industry-led organisation responsible for the development, promotion and marketing of Welsh red meat. Extensive management experience, M&A and strategy.
|
Sales & Marketing | |
Strategy & Leadership |
|
Mergers & Acquisitions | |
Sector Experience |
Alk Brand
Chief Executive Officer
Experienced Global CEO, Board Director, Transformation & Integration Leader, Growth and Operational Excellence Achiever, and M&A Expert. A strong advocate for proper corporate governance, resulting in the attainment of the IoD Chartered Director qualification in 2022 and recognition as England's Chartered Director of the Year in 2023. People-focused with a belief that talent is a key differentiator.
|
Nominations Committee | |
Strategy & Leadership |
|
Mergers & Acquisitions | |
Sector Experience |
 |
Health & Safety | |
Corporate Governance |
Rob Thomas
Chief Financial Officer
Significant financial and commercial experience in senior roles, including in the agricultural and the supply chain sectors. Joining Wynnstay in 2023 from EFSGlobal Limited, the UK-based logistics provider, where he was Group Finance Director. Before that, he worked at NWF Group plc, as the Finance Director of the feeds division, NWF Agriculture Limited, which manufactures and supplies animal feeds to livestock farmers across the UK. He has significant experience of M&A and strategic planning.
|
Sector Experience | |
Finance |
|
Mergers & Acquisitions | |
Strategy & Leadership |
Claire Alexander Williams
Company Secretary
Claire was appointed to the Board in January 2020. Qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC in 2001, as over twenty years' experience in senior financial and administrative roles.
 |
Company Secretarial | |
Strategy & Leadership |
|
Finance | |
Corporate Governance |