UK CPA announces appointment of new Chief Executive

Sarah Mukherjee, currently Director of Environment at Water UK, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the UK Crop Protection Association (CPA), taking over from Nick von Westenholz, who will be moving to the NFU as Director of EU Exit and International Trade in the New Year. Sarah will take up the role on the 13th March 2017.

Commenting on the appointment, CPA Chairman, Gary Mills-Thomas said：“I am delighted that we have been able to appoint someone with such a wealth of expertise and knowledge as the Association’s Chief Executive.

“As the crop protection sector continues to face significant political and regulatory pressures, which will only be magnified by the process of Brexit, Sarah’s experience working with senior civil servants, politicians and regulators will be hugely valuable.

“Sarah has an excellent track record in communicating often very complex ideas to both specialist and non-specialist audiences, and I believe she will bring strong leadership and a fresh approach to the opportunities and challenges that our industry currently faces.

“In the interim it will be business as usual at the CPA, the organisation is in excellent shape and will continue to effectively represent the crop protection industry ahead of Sarah beginning work in March.”

Sarah said of her appointment:"I am delighted to be taking up such a crucial post at such a pivotal time for the industry. Brexit and the post-CAP regime will bring both challenge and opportunity to the crop protection sector, within a context of population growth and climate change.

“We need to balance the needs of the environment and sustainable farming with the requirement to feed a growing population, and I very much look forward to taking on these issues next year."