Allan Stevenson took the reins as chairman of the Potato Council this week.

The move, on Monday, has been welcomed as step forward to the organisation.

Stevenson becomes a main board director of Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

He is a director of his own arable farming company, which specialises in high quality pre-pack potatoes, and he is a qualified chartered accountant, with a wealth of commercial management and corporate governance experience.

Dennis Heywood, who has been acting as the interim chairman, has stepped down and will resume his duties as an independent board member of the Potato Council.

AHDB chairman John Bridge said: “I am delighted to have someone of Allan’s calibre joining the AHDB and Potato Council boards. We are going through a period of massive change as we build a new, more efficient levy board structure and I look forward to his contribution to this process.

“I thank Dennis Heywood for his tremendous work since February, when he agreed to temporarily step in as interim chairman of the Potato Council.”

Potato Council chief executive Helen Priestley said: “The British potato sector is under threat from EU competition. It faces significant challenges such as the reduction in available pesticides, and managing soil and water issues. It also must promote the positive nutrition profile of potatoes and fight against rice and pasta for its place in young people’s diets.

“My team and I look forward to working with Allan in shaping the strategies to best deploy levy funds to meet these challenges.”

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