Red Tractor appoints new interim chairman

Red Tractor has announced the appointment of a new interim chairman following the departure of Christine Tacon from the role.

Cumbrian beef and sheep farmer Alistair Mackintosh, who is currently vice-chairman of the farm assurance scheme membership, will become chairman on an interim basis.

Red Tractor ownership body members – NFU, NFU Scotland, Ulster Farmers’ Union, AHDB, Dairy UK and the British Retail Consortium – made the announcement in a joint statement on Friday (31 May).

See also: Red Tractor chairwoman to step down for Co-op role

“In light of the resignation of Red Tractor chair Christine Tacon, the owners of Red Tractor have appointed current vice-chair Alistair Mackintosh as interim chair,” said the statement.

“Alistair will start in post on 1 July 2024, the agreed date Christine will step down. He will continue in post until at least January 2025 by which time the interim findings of the independent review into farm assurance should be known.”

The members thanked Ms Tacon for her work as chairwoman, saying her “diligence and strong leadership” had helped to steer the organisation through “an extremely challenging period for food and farming”.

“As the longstanding vice-chair of Red Tractor, we believe that Alistair can build on the strong foundations left by Christine, provide stability for the organisation, and face into the concerns of Red Tractor members,” the statement continued.

Earlier this month, Ms Tacon announced plans to step down as chairwoman after being after being appointed to the Co-op board. This had created a “dilemma” with her role at the farm assurance body, she said.

© Red Tractor

Recruitment ongoing

Red Tractor will now begin the process of recruiting a permanent chairman or woman this autumn.

Mr Mackintosh said: “I’m honoured to be asked to act as interim chair. Christine has made a huge contribution to Red Tractor and I look forward to continuing her work.

“As a farmer, I’ve seen the huge benefits that Red Tractor has delivered since its establishment in 2000.

“I’m totally committed to rebuilding farmers’ trust in Red Tractor, fully engaging with the review into farm assurance, and working to demonstrate the value that Red Tractor brings to farmers like myself.”

In recent months, Red Tractor has faced strong criticism from farmers and farming organisations after it announced plans to introduce the Greener Farms Commitment (GFC), a voluntary bolt-on module to its schemes.

The plans were scrapped in March following a major pushback from farmers.

A wide-ranging review of Red Tractor and the farm assurance network is under way.