New faces underline ambition to drive British dairy exports
Rachel Speed
The commitment to grow British dairy exports has been underlined with two key industry appointments.
Rachael Speed has joined the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) as senior international market development manager (Dairy). The former NFU trade adviser will work closely with exporters to increase the profile and grow British dairy products globally.
Adil Khan has been appointed as VP international trade (Dairy) Middle East and will be AHDB’s new dairy products representative in the Middle East. His role is jointly funded by the department for business and trade (DBT), and he will work with dairy exporters to help grow further opportunities for the sector in the region.
Adil Khan
Having spent 23 years working for the UK Government, latterly with the DBT, Adil worked closely with AHDB for the last six years to support the growth of cheese and dairy products in the UAE and the wider region through bespoke events, including Gulfood in Dubai.
Rachael said: “I am delighted to join the AHDB. With a strong background in international trade policy and agriculture from time at the NFU I bring with me relationships across the dairy supply chain. I look forward to working with the team and navigating complex overseas markets to unlock new opportunities for dairy products worldwide.”
Adil said: “I’m extremely pleased to be appointed as AHDB’s representative for the Middle East and look forward to helping grow exports of British cheese and dairy products to the region.
“My extensive network in the local food and drink sector, deep-seated understanding of the regional business landscape, comprehensive grasp of the commercial requirements of the local business community and trust I have fostered with local stakeholders will play a key role in this.”
Lucy Randolph, AHDB head of international trade development (Dairy), said: “Rachael and Adil’s vast experience and passion for growing British dairy exports will make them valuable additions to our team. Their insight and knowledge will enable us to provide additional support for our levy payers to help them thrive on the global stage.”
Further details on opportunities for dairy exports are detailed in the AHDB analysis Prospects for UK agri-food exports.