Today marks a change at the top of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), as John Powell takes over from Nick Allen as chief executive.
Mr Allen, a well known and respected figure in the industry for many years, retires following nearly a decade at the helm, during which he guided the association through a period of significant change for the UK meat industry, including Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Allen, who will remain available to support the transition, said: “After nine years at the BMPA, I am delighted to hand over the reins to John Powell. It has been a great privilege to serve as CEO during a period of profound change for the industry, and I would like to sincerely thank our members and, above all, the BMPA team for their unwavering support. This is a truly great industry, and I am immensely proud to have been part of it.”
Mr Powell, who joined BMPA earlier this month, brings extensive experience from senior roles in UK government, through his international work as an adviser to a number of Central and Eastern European Governments, and his engagement over many years with the wider agri-food sector, including his previous position as head of agricultural sectors team at Defra.
He said: “I am excited to take up the role of CEO at BMPA and to build on the strong foundations established by Nick. I look forward to working closely with members, the government, regulators and industry stakeholders to ensure the meat industry’s voice is clearly heard on the key issues it faces.”
BMPA chairman Tom Kirwan said: “On behalf of all BMPA members, I would like to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Nick for his years of service to our industry. His even-handed approach, tenacious advocacy and ability to work with disparate interest groups has been invaluable.
“Looking to the future of BMPA, John Powell brings an impressive breadth of experience at the highest levels of government, as well as strong relationships across industry stakeholders. His understanding of the challenges facing the UK meat sector will ensure BMPA continues to provide effective representation for its members.”