New MD takes up the reins at BCPC

BCPC has announced that Chris Todd, Managing Director will be retiring and that Julian Westaway has been appointed as his successor as of 1 April 2014.

As outgoing Managing Director, Chris Todd reflects, “I am delighted that after 16 very stimulating and rewarding years at the helm of BCPC I retire having been closely involved in the selection of my successor. It has been a great pleasure working with the various trustees, members of the management board, staff, contractors and associated organisations. My handover to Julian will run throughout April and subsequently I will attend various meeting and events, as required, throughout 2014 to ensure continuity.”

“This is a great time to be joining the BCPC,” says Julian. “The growing realisation that food security needs to be near the very top of national and international agendas makes the role of all those involved in the agricultural sector ever more important. With the pressures of growing populations, changing climates, environmental constraints and increasing demands on land use, an organisation such as the BCPC can play a key role in helping meet these significant challenges.”

Julian has a strong agricultural and electronic publishing background, which is an ideal fit with BCPC’s portfolio of products and activities. After gaining a BSc in Agricultural Science he joined the Milk Marketing Board before being appointed Group Production Editor of the Chemicals Group for RBI. In 1996 he set up Farmers Weekly Interactive in the role of New Media Editor and then became Electronic Publisher for the Farmers Weekly group. On leaving RBI he joined Defra as Senior Editor of the Rural Business Advice Channel and then joined UBM as Online Commercial Manager for the Farmers Guardian group. In 2011 Julian moved to Point Two, the innovative equestrian air jacket manufacturer, as General Manager.