Helen Herniman has been appointed chief executive officer and accounting officer of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) as of 5th January 2026.
Herniman is a Chartered Accountant with several years’ executive experience, leading organisations in a variety of sectors through growth, turnaround and transformation.
Her career spans the public and private sectors, including the Law Society as chief finance officer and, most recently, the Nursing and Midwifery Council where she was the acting chief executive officer.
Speaking about her appointment, Helen Herniman commented: “I’m delighted to be joining an organisation that has a key role in an industry that produces safe, sustainable and nutritious food.
“My predecessors and the brilliant team at AHDB are making great progress in supporting and championing our world-class farmers and producers and there is plenty more to come.
“I look forward to working with our experts and the wider industry to continue our mission to unlock the success of British agriculture.”
AHDB chair Emily Norton said: “On behalf of the whole board, I am delighted to be welcoming Helen as the chief executive officer.
“Helen’s strategic insight, and belief that our greatest strength lies in our people, align deeply with the board’s values and ambition for AHDB.
“She brings a proven track record of leadership, innovation and service delivery in the regulated and private sectors, experience that will be invaluable as we continue to deliver on our sector strategies and for our levy payers.”
The new CEO position is an appointment by the board of AHDB led by the chair of the board, Emily Norton, and supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Janet Swadling, interim CEO, will lead the process of a handover in the new year, before leaving AHDB in January.
AIMS welcomes Helen Herniman
Tony Goodger, head of communications at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), stated: “On behalf of our levy paying members, we welcome the appointment of Helen Herniman as the new CEO of AHDB.
“We look forward to meeting with Helen at the earliest opportunity and to working with her on delivering the best outcomes for the livestock and dairy sectors.”
