Anglia Farmers, which purchases 10 per cent of the UK's total farm inputs, has appointed Jon Duffy as its new CEO.
Duffy, who will join the company on 1 March, will take over from Clarke Willis, who is standing down after 15 years at the helm.
The Norfolk-based firm, which has a turnover of aound £250 million, purchases farm inputs – including fertilisers, agchem products, and cereal and pulse seeds – on behalf of its 3,500 shareholders in the farming industry.
With 20 years experience in the agricultural sector, Duffy is well equipped for his new role. Having graduated with a Higher National Diploma in Agriculture from Plymouth University, he was managing director of seed, grain and fertiliser supplier Gleadell Agriculture between 1996 and 2005.
That year he joined crop inputs and grain marketing business Frontier Agriculture as trading director, before serving as the company’s business development director from 2014 and 2016.For the past two years Duffy has also been chairman of the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC).
Commenting on his appointment, Duffy said: “I am delighted to be joining AF and very much hope to build on the good work done by Clarke and his team over the years.
“Whilst much of UK Agriculture has recently been going through a period of change and uncertainty, the future of AF is incredibly bright and my aim is to improve the business for the benefit of its members. We live in exciting times and I cannot wait to get started.”
Anglia Farmers chairman Nigel Savory added: 'We are looking forward to welcoming Jon to AF. I am pleased that we have been able to attract a candidate of Jon’s calibre. His industry knowledge and management skills will be a real asset to AF.”
Savory also praised outgoing CEO Clarke Willis for his hard work and dedication. “Clarke's vision, drive and determination have put AF firmly on the map as the leading agricultural purchasing group in the UK,” he said.
