Nairn Glen to retire as Milk Link Group Finance Director

The Milk Link Governing Board has announced that Nairn Glen is to retire as Milk Links Group Finance Director at the end of the current financial year.  He will be succeeded by Tim Smiddy, currently Milk Links Deputy Group Finance Director.

Commenting on the announcement Ronnie Bell, Chairman of Milk Link said, Nairn Glen joined Milk Link at its inception as our first Non Executive Director and since 2004 has been our Group Finance Director. As such, over the last ten years Nairn has played a major role in Milk Links transformation from being a regional milk broker into the UKs most progressive vertically integrated dairy products business.   I would therefore like, on behalf of the Governing Board and Im sure all our Members and staff, to thank him for his invaluable contribution to our development.

Although Nairn will retire as Group Finance Director at the start of April he will, Im pleased to say, continue to act as an advisor to us and we will therefore continue to benefit from his experience and counsel for a period longer.

Commenting on his decision to retire Nairn Glen said, I feel very privileged to have been Milk Links Group Finance Director during its formative years and to have played a part in building a progressive and successful farmer-owned business.

We have, I believe, made considerable progress and have established a strong financial framework on which the business can continue to build in the future.  Of course, our growth and development took place during a period of huge challenges and change for the dairy industry and I would therefore like to pay tribute to the quality and commitment of my fellow Board members and all my colleagues in Milk Link, the Council, and, above all, our tremendously loyal Members.  I would also like to thank our advisors, Burges Salmon and Deloitte, for their support and invaluable guidance throughout the journey.

The Governing Board has appointed Tim Smiddy as Milk Links new Group Financial Director. Tim has spent the whole of his career in the dairy industry, firstly with Dairygold in Ireland and subsequently with Glanbia plc.   Between 2001 and 2004, Tim held a number of senior management roles within Glanbia including being General Manager at its Oswestry cheese cutting and packing facility, and Supply Chain Director.  He joined Milk Link in 2004 following its acquisition of Glanbias The Cheese Company and was subsequently appointed Finance Director of The Cheese Company in 2005.   Tim was promoted to the role of Milk Links Deputy Group Finance Director in 2008 and has been responsible for all financial reporting and planning in the Group.   Tim is a Chartered Management Accountant and has an MBA from Manchester Business School.

Commenting on the announcement, Neil Kennedy Milk Link Chief Executive said, Nairn has played a vital role in the growth and development of Milk Link and I would like to pay tribute to the hard work, skill and commitment he has given to the business over the last ten years. Looking forward, I am delighted that Tim Smiddy has been promoted to the role of Group Finance Director.  I have no doubt that his strong financial and business acumen together with his detailed understanding of Milk Link and the wider dairy industry will enable him to succeed in what is an important and challenging role.