Soil Association Certification has appointed Martin Sawyer as its new chief executive.
Sawyer brings a strong background in the food industry, and is looking to lead Soil Association Certification - the UK's largest organic certification body -through the next phase of its development.
He has previously worked in management roles for Bakkavör, Premier Foods, Bomfords, and Oscar Mayer.
Sawyer replaces Rob Sexton, who has joined Yeo Valley Farms as finance and IT director.
Sawyer said: “I am looking forward to leading Soil Association Certification through the next phase – continuing to work hard to make organic accessible for everyone and growing our certification business in all areas across food, textiles, health and beauty and forestry products.
“I believe that everyone should have access to local, seasonal, affordable, healthy and organic food. I’m looking forward to working with an organisation that shares this vision. Soil Association schemes like the Catering Mark already show great success in providing over one million meals each day, making good food the norm in schools, hospitals, care homes and workplaces - all places where people have little food choice.”
Soil Association Certification is responsible for certifying over 70 per cent of all organic products sold in the UK.It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Soil Association, with an independent board chaired by Linda Campbell.
The Soil Association was founded in 1946 by farmers, scientists, doctors and nutritionists to promote the connection betweenthe health of the soil, food, animals, people and the environment. Today, it is the UK's leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use. Its chief executive is Helen Browning.
