The ANM Group, one of Scotland’s largest and most progressive producer-owned farming, food and finance businesses, will co-opt a respected banker to its board in January.
Jane Mitchell has more than 25 years’ experience in the finance sector and will attend her first board meeting of the group at Thainstone, Aberdeenshire, in January.
This announcement comes just weeks after two respected members of the Scottish farming community, Stuart Stephen and David Mackenzie, were co-opted to the board in October.
Mr Stephen is president of the Turriff Show and director of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society; and Mr Mackenzie is Harbro’s UK sales manager for beef and sheep.
ANM Group chairman Pat Machray said: “Jane is a well-known, and thoroughly respected figure at Thainstone; throughout the North-east; and in the wider national financial and agriculture sectors.
“The combination of her farming experience and financial acumen is formidable, and I know she will make a significant contribution to the group at this important time.
“Indeed, the combined skills and strength of expertise, harnessed through all three recent appointments brings a great deal to our co-operative: ensuring we are well placed to respond constructively to the challenging conditions being felt across the farming industry, as well as in the wider North-east economy.
“I very much look forward to working with Jane, together with Stuart and David.”
Miss Mitchell joined the Clydesdale Bank in 1997, holding a number of positions, including senior partner agribusiness and head of customer banking centre at the Group’s Thainstone Centre, near Inverurie.
The chartered accountant and former Inverurie Academy pupil graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1990 with a BSc in Agriculture, Agronomy and Crop Science, and completed the Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme at the Scottish Agricultural College in 2015.
And Miss Mitchell is book-keeper at the family dairy farm, E Mitchell & Sons, Inveramsay Farm, Pitcaple: run by her father Alex, and brother Roy.
"Agriculture is a business that I’ve not only known throughout my studies and my career, I’ve been personally involved in the sector my whole life: my family’s been farming here since the late 1920s.
"It’s a challenging industry, but the considerable skills, knowledge and dedication of the people involved continue to make it a success.
“And the strength and depth of ANM Group, it’s diverse footprint and broad geographical spread, ensures we’re well placed to meet these challenges. I’m honoured to be joining the board.”
Welcoming the appointment, the co-operative’s chief executive, Grant Rogerson, said: “Jane’s appointment further reinforces our considerable capability at a time where we’re seeing difficulties in the economy and our sector, but importantly where there are also constantly emerging opportunities to deliver best value for our thousands of members and customers. Jane, along with her fellow board members, will play a key role in that effort.”.