Shropshire Farming Talk: Changes at the top
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust has announced its replacement for retiring CEO, Teresa Dent, who is so admired for her amazing leadership to the Trust over the past two decades.
Filling those crystal shoes is Nick von Westenholz, currently Director of Strategy for the National Farmers Union, and hence very well placed for any political issues.
So, we are delighted to hear he has accepted the role, with plans to take over in the spring.
Nick initially qualified as a barrister and for a time worked for a public affairs agency in London. Since then, he has held a number of senior positions within the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), including Head of Government Affairs and Director of EU Exit and International Trade.
He also served as Chief Executive of the Crop Protection Association (CPA) for four years. He is currently Director of Strategy for the NFU, working on international trade, business, and agricultural policy.
Nick lives with his wife and children on a family farm, which is run in partnership with neighbouring farms.
Our current CEO, Teresa , will be staying until she can handover to Nick next year.
As GWCT Chairman Jim Paice said: “We want to thank Teresa for the wonderful work she has done through her 22 years as CEO at GWCT. She has made a lasting impact on the game and wildlife sector and leaves an incredible legacy for farmers, gamekeepers and other land managers.
“Finding her successor was not an easy task, but after an extensive search we were pleased to appoint Nick to the role. He brings a genuine love of the countryside."
by Steve Barker, Chairman, Shropshire GWCT
