Key Yara promotions benefit UK customers

Two key promotions at Yara UK will bring direct benefits to UK farmers.

Jez Wardman

Mark Tucker, formerly UK Head of Agronomy, now becomes Chief Agronomist for Northern Europe, responsible for company activities in the UK and The Republic of Ireland as well as Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic Countries.

Ian Matts, formerly Agronomic Coordinator for Yara UK will succeed Mark, becoming Company Agronomist for the UK and the Republic of Ireland – a position in which he will be supported by Jez Wardman, who joined the agronomy team last year.

Mark Tucker

Visiting Russia in the first days of his appointment Mr Tucker said, “My new role, and new extended territory, will provide fascinating insights, and great opportunities to increase my understanding of growing crops. As well as being able to contribute to the growth of Yara, I aim to translate the benefits directly to Yara’s UK operation – to the advantage of our farmer customers. We are all operating in a global market, facing the same challenging times, so increasing knowledge is to everyone’s advantage. The lessons I have learned from British growers will certainly contribute to the success of my new role in Europe.”

“Mark’s promotion is certainly well deserved,” said Rosie Carne, Yara UK’s Marketing and Agronomy Manager. “It recognises Mark’s skills and his success in putting agronomy firmly at the centre of our activities over the ten years he has been with us. I am particularly delighted that the UK and Ireland are still at the heart of his operation, so that he can continue to play an important role in the UK business.”

Ian Matts, who studied Agriculture at Newcastle, and has honed his agronomy skills under Mark’s guidance over the last seven years, will now lead Yara’s agronomy team in the UK.

“I am delighted to have been able to recognise Ian’s talents and promote him to head up our key agronomy activity,” says Rosie Carne. “Ian quickly established himself as an essential

Ian Matts

member of the UK team working closely with Mark. He now combines his work with Yara, with his own independent agronomy work, which reinforces his ability to represent the ‘farmers approach’.”

“Any agronomy role in today’s climate is a real challenge!” comments Ian. “I am, however, not only excited to have been given this opportunity but very lucky in that I am part of such an excellent team. These are difficult times for farmers, both in the UK and Europe, and having reliable products and advice built on solid science that you can depend on is the starting point from which farmers can go on to make the decisions that will affect the future of their businesses.”

In endorsing these new appointments, Benoit Lamaison, the Managing Director of Yara UK Limited has said that he believes that such career advancements play a vital part in every company’s success. “I am delighted we could both recognise Mark’s achievements and also reward Ian by inviting him to step in to Mark’s shoes. They are big shoes to fill but I am sure that Ian is more than ready for the challenge!”