The OTB Strategic Advisory Board have appointed Martin Sawyer and Roger Kerr as directors to ensure proper legal governance and proprietary oversight of the organisation.
The change in management is due to Adrian Blackshaw resigning his position as Director and Chairman of the Organic Trade Board.
In addition, Adam Wakeley, has also resigned as a Director of the OTB in order to engage in new challenges.
The new appointments ensures the OTB maintains its legal responsibilities as a not for profit trade organisation and fulfils the criteria relating to the delivery of the EU marketing programme and other strategic objectives in the OTB’s Strategy Plan,
Paul Moore, Executive Director at OTB said: ”The OTB is grateful to both Adrian and Adam for their contributions to the development of the sector through their work and input within the framework of the Organic Trade Board.
It is very timely that Martin and Roger are stepping into these roles as the OTB pursues its stated purpose of bringing together the efforts of the organic industry together so we can collectively grow organic sales to 10% market share.”
Roger Kerr, Chief Executive of OF&G stated “There is a growing interest in the many benefits organic food and farming delivers. The value of the Organic Trade Board, as a sector backed body, in communicating to consumers and society as a whole regarding the concerns people have about their food and health, while supporting a diverse and thriving farming environment, cannot therefore be underestimated.”
Martin Sawyer Chief Executive Officer at Soil Association said “I’m pleased to be able to provide support and guidance to the OTB at an important time, with a real opportunity to build further demand for organic products from an increasingly engaged consumer and to help ensure the benefits of organic are really widely understood and accessible to all.”
The Strategic Advisory Board is made up of Paul Moore (Organic Trade Board), Martin Sawyer (Soil Association Certification), Roger Kerr (Organic Farmers and Growers), Adrian Carne (Yeo Valley), Hannah Shipton (Abel and Cole), Mark Haynes (G’s Fresh Produce) and Tim Field (Daylesford).
The Strategic Advisory Board next meets on Tuesday 30 April and will discuss any further changes and proposals relating to governance, representation and work of the OTB to be circulated to the members.
The work of the OTB is directed and informed by the work of the Strategic Advisory Board, the Membership Committee and the Marketing Committee and we look forward to continuing our work through engagement with our members, and on behalf of the members as we execute our plan for 2019 and prepare for 2020 and beyond!
