NFU North West gets new leader

Cumbrian farmer and former NFU Cumbria County Chairman, Alistair Mackintosh, has been elected as the organisation's North West Regional Management Board Chairman.

The management board has been in existence since March 2002 when the NFU announced it was changing its board structure. The aim of the board is to guide the NFU (at a regional level) through the many challenges it faces. Alistair takes over as chairman from Brampton farmer Peter Allen MBE.

"For me this is a sleeves rolled up kind of job," said Alistair.

"If you look at my NFU history it's a logical step. When I was county chairman I reached out to the membership just as I have done in my more recent role as livestock board chairman. However this is the ultimate challenge.

"It's now my job to engage members from the grassroots up through to the officeholders and eventually to the NFU hierarchy."

A popular figure in NFU circles, Alistair has made himself known throughout the years and is a familiar face even outside the county of Cumbria.

"When I became the North West's livestock board chairman I took it upon myself to visit all the group secretaries in the region and attended as many auction marts and branch meetings as I could," added Alistair.

"Working relationships within the NFU are crucial. I would like to carry on the good work Peter Allen has started and match the hard graft he has put in."