The NFU has appointed Sainsbury’s senior agriculture manager, Philip Hambling, as its new head of food and farming.
The appointment, which begins in mid-April, comes at a crucial time for the union’s commodity boards as they face the challenge of responding to Brexit while also establishing food and farming’s sustainable recovery from depressed markets.
In addition to his current position with Sainsbury’s, Mr Hambling has also held various food sector roles with Defra, Randall Parker Foods and the British Meat Processors’ Association.
“The NFU has a hugely important and influential role to play in the development of agriculture and food chains at this time of significant challenge and potential opportunity for UK producers,” said Mr Hambling, who replaces Phil Bicknell, who left the NFU in December last year to join the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.