AHDB NEWS RELEASE
06 January 2015
NEW AHDB CEO APPOINTED
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.
Note to Editors: 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/
Ends
For further information contact:
Anna Farrell, AHDB Head of Levy Payer Communications
Anna.farrell@ahdb.org.uk
Direct Tel: 024 7647 8714
Mobile: 07887 935805