The Crown Estate has appointed Gareth Baird as the next Crown Estate Scottish Commissioner and non-executive board member.
The well-known Scottish Borders farmer will take up the post from 1 October, replacing Hugh Duberly CBE, who will be retiring from the Crown’s board after eight years.
The commissioners form the Crown’s main board, which comprises seven non-executive members and one full-time executive member.
Baird is a third-generation tenant farmer involved in arable and beef production near Kelso in the Borders, and is a leading figure in Scotland’s agricultural and food and drink sectors.
He is chairman of Scott Country Potato Growers, vice-chairman of Grainco, and a director of Scotland Food and Drink and of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.
He has been involved with farming co-operatives for many years and also chairs the South of Scotland regional advisory board of Scottish Enterprise.
He is a fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies and Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale.
Ian Grant CBE, chairman and Scottish Commissioner of The Crown Estate, said: “With the retirement of Hugh Duberly at the end of September and myself at the end of the year there was a need to attract someone with a strong knowledge of agriculture and rural issues at this time.
“A tenant farmer, Gareth has wide experience gained both through the running of his own farming enterprise and through building up a number of successful farmer-controlled businesses, and I am confident that his energy and experience will be of great benefit to The Crown Estate and the board.”
Baird said: “I am delighted to be joining The Crown Estate, an organisation which is recognised to be playing a key role in the rural economy as well as being a progressive landlord.
“I am particularly looking forward to building on the partnerships The Crown Estate has created with the Scottish government and industry to develop renewable energy, and I am keen to play my part in ensuring that Scotland benefits from these opportunities both in terms of economic development and tackling climate change.
“In terms of the marine and rural sectors, I am committed to sustainable development among Scotland’s communities, bringing people together to work collaboratively. In this respect I am strongly supportive of local enterprise and production which I believe can benefit Scotland as a whole.”
