JILL Hewitt has been appointed to CEO of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC), following the retirement of Duncan Russell.

Jill has a wealth of previous experience, having previously run the organisation from 2000-2013, before a family crisis forced her to step down. However, she remained active in the organisation, being retained as a consultant and leading the NAAC’s political and technical work in the interim.

Jill said: "I am delighted to be back at the helm of the NAAC at such a critical time for the land-based industry. With over 90 per cent of farmers using a contractor it is vital that the NAAC is at the forefront of political negotiations to ensure that we are properly recognised in a post-Brexit era.

"To make certain contractors have a bright future, we need the industry to be united and represent ourselves as professionals, demanding fair and equal treatment at Government level to allow us to invest in the new technology and innovation coming our way.

"My aim is to retain a high political profile for the industry, whilst also making certain that members can rest easy at night, confident they have all the information and back-up they need to sustain a legally compliant, safe and professional business."

Jill is a Fellow of the Institute of Agricultural Management and is a Churchill Scholar.

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