Co-operative’ s new top team revealed

North-east farmers’ co-operative ANM Group has named a new top team for its board. The co-op, which runs auction marts at Thainstone near Inverurie and at Quoybrae near Wick, has named a new chairman, vice-chairman and deputy vice-chairman following its annual general meeting last month.

The changes come following the retirement of outgoing chairman and Banchory farmer Pete Watson from the board.

The new top team comprises Mike Macaulay in the role of chairman, supported by vicechairman Stuart Stephen and deputy vice-chairman David Green.

Mr Macaulay is a founding member and chairman of GPH Builders Merchants Ltd, director of Ringlink Scotland and chairman of Inverurie Loco Works football club.

He also runs a small herd

of Aberdeen-angus cattle at his home in Kinellar.

Mr Stephen is a former Turriff Show president who runs Thorneybank Farm Shop and a 700-acre farm at Netherthird, Rothienorman, while Mr Green is managing director of 12,500-acre Duncan Farms at Muirden, Turriff.

“I feel very privileged to be taking on this role at such an exciting time for the group,” said

Mr Macaulay, who has been a member of ANM Group’s board since September 2013.

“The group’s diverse board is ideally placed to support members and customers from across industries, regardless of the challenges in the economic and political landscape.”

ANM Group chief executive, Grant Rogerson, welcomed the appointments and said: “The board changes come as we reflect on a successful year and the power of the co-operative delivering £370,000 in members’ reduced commissions alone.

“Our desire to continually innovate and invest in our business has resulted in another positive set of results and strong returns for our members, and I look forward to continuing our current position of strength with new board leadership from Mike, Stuart and Dave.”

Last month, ANM revealed a 221% increase in pre-tax profits for the year to December 31 2021.

The co-op posted a pretax profit of £437,000 – up from a pre-tax profit of £136,000 in 2020 and a pre-tax loss of £160,000 in 2019.

The group also posted a 10% increase in throughput to £133.28 million, from £121.39m the year before, and its trading profit was up 25% to £659,000.

CO-OPERATIVE APPROACH: From left, David Green, Mike Macaulay, Grant Rogerson and Stuart Stephen.

Former chairman Pete Watson, who has just retired.