2016-03-18 |
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George Lyon Appointed Chair of MLCSL
George Lyon has been appointed Chair of Meat & Livestock Commercial Services Limited (MLCSL), the commercially trading wholly-owned subsidiary of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), with effect from 1 March 2016.
The business is best known for the independent carcase classification and dressing inspection service it provides to red meat abattoirs across the UK, against which beef, sheep and pig producers are paid deadweight for their stock.
George Lyon
Following a competitive industry-wide recruitment process George Lyon was appointed to the role for a three year term. He replaces MLCSL Board Member Ian Black who had been Acting Chair since December 2015.
Jane
King, AHDB CEO and MLCSL Board Member said:
“George brings
strong Board and Chair experience as well as a very strong financial
background and a good understanding of the livestock industry.
His role as an independent member on the AHDB Board will also ensure
that MLCSL remains clearly on the AHDB
Board agenda.
George Lyon commented:
MLCSL plays a vital independent role in
determining what the farmer is paid by the slaughterhouse for the
quality of his deadweight carcase.
"The business faces challenges from continuing rationalisation in the slaughter sector and the need to innovate in the face of competition from technological advances such as VIA (video image analysis). The Board and management team are focused on the profitability and the longer term sustainability of the business.
George Lyon - Biography
George Lyon was a member of the Scottish Parliament for Argyll & Bute (1999-2007) and served as deputy finance minister between 2005 and 2007. Prior to embarking on his political career, his long-term involvement with the National Farmers Union (NFU) led to him becoming President of NFU Scotland in 1998.
Elected to the European Parliament in 2009, Mr Lyon quickly became a prominent and influential member of the Agricultural and Rural Affairs committee and played a central role in negotiating key aspects of agreements on both CAP reform and the EU budget. He also worked on issues related to trade policy, with a particular focus on EU relations with the US and the emerging negotiations on TTIP.
George is an independent Board Member at AHDB, Chair of MLCSL, and a senior consultant for the agri-food practice of Hume Brophy.
