One of the leading names in UK food and farming, Richard Macdonald, has been appointed Non-Executive Chair of Eden Search & Select – the only specialist executive search consultancy focused solely on the global food supply chain.

Currently Deputy Chair of the Environment Agency, Richard has more than 40 years’ experience in food and farming, and an illustrious track-record working for some of the biggest names in the industry. Director General of the NFU from 1996–2009, Mr Macdonald is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society. He was awarded a CBE in 2002 for services to agriculture, and has held numerous non-executive director roles at organisations such as Moy Park, Dairy Crest, NIAB and Farm Africa.

The company that he joins, Eden Search & Select has been providing specialist executive search services to leading names across agribusiness and the food and farming industry for the past 10 years. Founded in 2011, the business works with international and UK-based organisations of all shapes and sizes – from rapidly growing, private equity funded agritech companies, to global corporations specialising in fresh, protein and plant-based produce, and food manufacturing.

Specialist executive search consultancy

“As we continue to deliver the best specialist executive search consultancy to the rapidly growing global agritech and food supply chain industries, we are excited about the impact Richard’s appointment will have on our own development,” remarked David Macaulay, Managing Director of Eden Search & Select. “Over the last decade, Eden Search & Select has gone from strength to strength. We’ve worked hard to nurture exclusive, long-term, strategic partnerships with big name brands that trust us to handle their executive search requirements and find the people they need to achieve their long-term commercial objectives. 

“Securing Richard as our non-executive Chair is also a real statement about our future,” he continued. “His appointment demonstrates the calibre of our work and underscores our commitment to building a team that truly understands the global industries we serve and the challenges they face day-to-day.”

Richard Macdonald said he was “delighted” to be joining Eden. “I have seen first-hand what a great specialist service the business offers to organisations across food, farming and agritech – and I know they can do even more,” he enthused. “The team is incredibly well-respected, and huge opportunities lay ahead. I look forward to being part of Eden’s onward journey as it embarks on its second decade in business.”