Kevin Roberts, the chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), has announced his intention to stand down in the spring after four years at the helm of the Welsh red meat levy body.
During his tenure, HCC developed a new ‘Vision 2025’ long-term strategic plan and has secured additional investment to deliver new work in increasing exports and improving efficiency and sustainability across the whole supply chain. The past four years has seen a 26% rise in the value of Welsh lamb and beef exports to over £200m a year, according to HCC.
He also stewarded the Welsh meat body through its response to the Covid-19 crisis, a time when action was taken to ensure the maintenance of food supply chains and increase consumer demand for red meat.
Roberts will remain in post until March, beyond the end of the Brexit transition period.
“I hope that by the end of my tenure in the spring that the future trading arrangement between the UK and the EU will be settled. In that case, Welsh livestock agriculture can look forward to an exciting and prosperous future.”
Commenting on his departure, Roberts said: “The past four years have certainly brought their challenges. It’s been a time when our sector has needed to respond to changing debates around the environment and sustainability, we’ve been faced with shifting future trade scenarios due to Brexit, and most recently we’ve had to adapt to an unprecedented pandemic.
“I’m proud of what HCC has achieved. We’ve integrated a new team of Board members and developed a bold and optimistic future vision in which red meat can lead the way for a Welsh food and drink sector which delivers what consumers want – a high quality product, produced to the highest standards of welfare and sustainability.
“I hope that by the end of my tenure in the spring that the future trading arrangement between the UK and the EU will be settled. In that case, Welsh livestock agriculture can look forward to an exciting and prosperous future.”
HCC has begun the recruitment process for Roberts’ successor and will be appointed by the Welsh Government Minister as part of the public appointments process.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
