A former Quality Meat Scotland staff member has been appointed its new head of industry development.
Johnny Mackey returns to the meat promotion body to take over from Andy McGowan, who has left to join the private sector.
Mr Mackey was technical projects manager at the now government quango for four years between 2004 and 2008, but the statement confirming his appointment makes no mention of that.
It only said he had held a “number of influential posts” in the industry.
Mr Mackey is the current secretary of the Luing Cattle Society and has, since 2011, been a member of the QMS board, a role that he will quit before he takes up his new post in January.
The biological sciences of agriculture graduate from Aberdeen University started his career in the farming sector as a graduate trainee with NFU Scotland. He has also been a director of the Perth and Kinross Countryside Initiative and of Aberfeldy-based livestock producers’ co-operative Highland Glen. He farms at Wester Drumlochy, Blairgowrie, and breeds Beef Shorthorn cattle.
QMS chief executive ‘Uel Morton said Mr Mackey’s appointment followed a rigorous recruitment process which had generated a high standard of applications. The recently revealed restructuring in the industry development department at QMS is in response to falling livestock numbers. It is creating three new posts.