Agriculture Champion appointed to James Hutton Institute board

“I am delighted to welcome our new board members who will bring key skills and knowledge to continue moving the James Hutton Group forward"

The James Hutton Institute today announced the appointment of Mr Archie Gibson, a leading ambassador for Scottish agriculture, to its Board of Directors as a non-executive director.

Mr Gibson is the executive director of Agrico UK Ltd, a company dedicated to the introduction and multiplication of potato varieties for all industry segments. He is also chairman of the Food and Drink Federation of Scotland and a member of the FDF Executive Committee. He has recently been appointed as one of four Agriculture Champions by the Scottish Government.

Mr Gibson’s appointment is part of an ongoing refresh of the board of the Institute and its commercial subsidiary, James Hutton Limited. The process has seen Professor James Curran - previously a board member - appointed as the new chair of the Institute board, and Dr Deborah Keith announced as the new chair of the board of James Hutton Limited.

Professor Curran has a science background in hydrometeorology and climate change, serving as an environmental regulator of industry and land managers and then specialising in policy and strategy development. He will be joined by new Hutton board appointees Iain Reid and Andrew Millar.

Currently a member of the Institute board, Dr Keith has over 30 years of experience in the agricultural science and technology sector, most recently as a research and development strategist in Syngenta, a world-leading agrichemical company.

Following the announcement of these appointments, Professor Colin Campbell commented: “I am delighted to welcome our new board members who will bring key skills and knowledge to continue moving the James Hutton Group forward.

“Board members cover a broad range of expertise, skills and knowledge and are instrumental in shaping the strategy of the organisation. This oversight has helped drive up the economic impact that our work provides to the Scottish and UK economy, recently measured at a return of £12.75 for every pound of public money received.”

All of the appointments are the result of an ongoing public search, open to internal and external candidates.