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Business area director role for Jonathan Plant breeder Limagrain has appointed Jonathan Tann to the new role of UK business area director, based at the company’s UK headquarters at Rothwell, Lincolnshire. From a farming background, and graduating in agricultural science from Leeds University, Jonathan has extensive experience of the arable sector in both technical and commercial roles, working for global companies Monsanto and
BASF. During his time at BASF, he worked with the European cereals marketing team, held the position of country manager for the Nordic and Baltic Region and more recently as BASF’s UK head of sales. “UK agriculture is going through a revolutionary period with regulation and resistance presenting key challenges, yet at the same time this provides an exciting opportunity for genetic solutions - bringing varieties to market that offer increased yields, stronger agronomic characteristics and better disease resistance.”
Essential communications A two-way technical communications role between the Argo Tractors factory and independent dealers supplying Landini and McCormick products has been taken on by Andrew Starbuck (formerly of Grimme), a new recruit to the manufacturer’s growing team covering the UK and Ireland. “As product manager, my principal role is to communicate technical information to our dealers about the features and benefits of the tractors so they are fully informed when talking to customers,” he explains. “But I will also be referring
any constructive comments and observations from users back to our team at Harworth and also to the product managers and engineers at the Argo Tractors factory.” Argo Tractors’ managing director, Adrian Winnett, says that effective two-way communication is essential to help with Argo’s philosophy of continuous development as current products are refined and improved while new tractors are planned for the future. He adds: “This is an important role in our expanding team, so I’m delighted to welcome Andrew, whose past experience working for dealers and for Europe’s leading potato and sugar beet equipment manufacturer will be invaluable.”
New appointments at insurance broker Recently appointed, Hannah Hubbard joins Farmers & Mercantile Insurance Brokers as an On Farm account executive based from the company’s Northampton branch. Hannah will be covering farms and rural businesses in Bedfordshire, Cambridge, Hertfordshire and the Midlands. Originally from the North West, Hannah moved to Bedfordshire 16 years ago working in finance. In 2012 she moved to insurance and started a career with NFU Mutual. Her background in finance gives her a unique understanding of risk, allowing her to offer comprehensive advice to her customers.
Vivienne Vivers has recently joined the Farmers & Mercantile team as an On Farm account executive based in the East of England. Viv grew up on her parents’ arable farm in Scotland and studied Agriculture at Newcastle University before starting her career in the insurance industry in 2013. She will work with both new and existing customers to provide advice and guidance on their business insurance requirements. She says that she looks forward to meeting existing customers of the firm and to welcoming new insurance members to the services offered by Farmers & Mercantile.
New technical support Dan Barnes has been appointed as UK technical support for Opico, to cover the South West, central south of England and south and mid Wales. Dan brings both practical and technical experience to the after-sales team. Since gaining his
National Diploma in land-based engineering in 2013, he has held service and technical positions with Claas, Case and Agco dealerships. In 2015 he followed the US grain harvest for six months gaining invaluable practical experience. Dan will work on all Opico, He-Va, Sky, Strautmann and Maschio brands across his area. He will be based from home in Dorset.
Account manager for Alo Alo UK has welcomed Peter Thompson as its new account manager for the Quicke brand, covering the North and central regions of the UK. Peter comes to Alo with 25 years’ experience in the agricultural industry, more recently holding a senior sales position within a large
main brand agricultural dealer. Already established within the team, Peter will be working within his region maintaining service levels for current customers and dealers, while developing new sales channels. Peter’s wealth of knowledge and understanding of agriculture and the dealer network makes him ideal to meet the needs and expectations of the growing number of dealers, says Alo.
When the going gets tough… Andrew Ford (top) TNS Attleborough, Norfolk; Jacques Marshall (middle) TNS Hinderclay, Suffolk; and Gabriel Powell (bottom) TNS Melton, Suffolk have all recently achieved their Agco Apprenticeships being the first group in the UK to pass through the tough new national apprenticeship standards for their industry sector, says dealer TNS. After a period of work experience at TNS following completion of their GCSEs, Andrew, Jac and Gabe joined
TNS on the Foundation Year, which included block release at Easton College. Having completed this trial year, they accepted the offer to join the Agco Apprenticeship Scheme, which is delivered in association with Warwickshire College. This includes three years’ study to achieve the Land-based Service Engineering Apprenticeship level 3, and includes block release at Warwickshire College and on-the-job training at TNS. For these apprentices, it has been a particularly tough end to their learning journey, points out TNS, because after completing four years’ total study in June 2018, they then had to wait for the End Point Assessment (EPA) to take place this February and another eight weeks for the results to arrive.
Area sales manager for Lemken Lemken UK Ltd has appointed Steve Plumb as area sales manager for the South East. Steve has a broad machinery background having spent many years working for agricultural machinery dealers in East Anglia, said Lemken. His experience and machinery
knowledge will enable him to support and develop the company’s dealer network in the South East with on-going sales support, sales training on new machines and onfarm demonstrations. “We’re delighted to have Steve in the sales team and welcome his enthusiasm and valuable experience,” added Lemken UK general manager, Paul Creasy.
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