Jim Paice named new chairman of First Milk
Sir Jim Paice has been named the new chairman of UK farmer-owned dairy co-operative First Milk.
The former farm minister will take over from chairman Bill Mustoe at the co-op’s AGM on 31 October.
“I feel privileged to be invited to lead the largest dairy business owned by British farmers,” said Sir Jim.
“Having worked for a farmer-owned business before I became an MP, and from being minister, I have always believed that farmers should work together to influence their own destiny.
“The dairy sector has gone through difficult times recently but I have long believed there is a good future for British dairy farmers and I look forward to helping to achieve it.”
Bill Mustoe said Sir Jim brought considerable knowledge and experience of both the domestic and international dairy markets to the job.
“Having worked for a farmer-owned business before I became an MP, and from being minister, I have always believed that farmers should work together to influence their own destiny.”
Sir Jim Paice
“He has been a champion for farmers at Westminster for more than 25 years and we now look forward to him being a champion for First Milk farmers,” he said.
Joining Sir Jim on the farmer board are three new farmer directors – Jim Baird, Willie Campbell and Wendy Radley. They will replace Tom Campbell, Mark James, Hugh Parker and Simon Weaver as farmer directors – First Milk is reducing the number of farmer directors on the board from six to five.
In March this year, Sir Jim announced he would be stepping down as Conservative MP for South East Cambridgeshire in 2015, after 28 years in the role.
During his time in office as farm minister, he was instrumental in the development of the dairy voluntary code of practice and famously said he would “bang heads together” to find a solution to the SOS Dairy campaign last year.
Jim Paice still fighting for agriculture