Phil Hadley to leave AHDB for the IMS
International trade development director, Dr Phil Hadley is to leave the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to take up the role of secretary general at the International Meat Secretariat (IMS).
Dr Hadley, who originally joined AHDB in 2004, will continue his work leading AHDB’s exports activity, which delivers an £11.90 return for every £1 invested, until spring 2024.
In his current role he has led the work to seek access to new markets on behalf of levy payers, linking up with producers and processors, UK Government departments and their overseas equivalents to deliver technical solutions and negotiate export approval. He has also led on the delivery of the extensive AHDB trade show programme promoting levy payers’ products overseas.
Speaking about his decision to take up his new role, Dr Hadley said: “Leaving AHDB has been a difficult decision but while I have enjoyed my time with the organisation across several roles, I am excited to be joining IMS. I leave with huge positivity and tremendous pride for the work of AHDB, and the export team in particular, on behalf of levy payers.
“I’m sure export promotion and trade will continue to go from strength to strength as our products find new markets and buyers across the globe. It’s been a pleasure to work with business, Government and AHDB colleagues on a bold export ambition to deliver genuine benefit along the supply chain for levy payers.”
AHDB chair Nicholas Saphir added: “I would like to thank Phil for his role in developing AHDB’s exports work as one of our fundamental activities with red meat and dairy exports being worth £3.6 billion in 2022.
“Maximising returns through accessing more profitable markets, such as cheese to the United States as well as fifth quarter opportunities such as beef tongue to Japan and pork offal to Asia, is of paramount importance to the industry.
“Export development has been endorsed as of paramount importance by Beef and Lamb, Dairy and Pork levy payers as part of the Shape the Future campaign and we will be looking to recruit a top-level replacement for Dr Hadley.
“With notable successes during Phil’s leadership being the expansion of our pork trade to China and achieving access to Japan and the United States for beef and sheep meat, our ambition must now be to build on these successes for the commercial benefit of levy payers.”
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