Following a formal application process, David Bell – a Board member since 2020 and a former SRUC student – was recommended by the Selection Committee and approved by the SRUC Board. He will officially take on the role from 11 September after Linda Hanna announced she was stepping down for personal reasons.  

The appointment of an Interim Chair ensures continuity while SRUC begins the process of recruiting a new Chair for an initial three-year term. The Interim Chair will serve for approximately six months. 

Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, said: "On behalf of everyone at SRUC, I would like to congratulate David on his appointment as Interim Chair of the Board. He takes over from Linda Hanna at a hugely exciting time, as we begin our first full academic year as an institution with taught degree-awarding powers and his extensive experience and knowledge of the farming and rural sectors will be hugely valuable."  

David, whose core business is progressive mixed farming and contract farming, brings valuable governance experience through his current roles, including Vice Chair of AHDB's UK-wide Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Board and Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and Chair of the Voluntary Initiative advocating for safe use of Plant Protection Products to the UK and the devolved governments. 

He said: "I'm honoured to take on the role of Interim Chair of the Board at SRUC. As a farmer myself and someone who's been connected with SRUC since my student days, this organisation has played a huge part in my life and career. I'm still in touch with many of the people I studied alongside all those years ago, and that lasting connection reflects just how strong the SRUC community is. 

"Throughout my career, I've worked to support SRUC's mission to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our industry and the wider world. I believe SRUC's unique tertiary model is key to bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and what's really happening on the ground. SAC Consulting, for example, allows us to stay closely connected with farmers across the country, making sure innovation doesn't stay locked in the lab but gets out into the fields where it's needed most. 

"During my time as Interim Chair, I look forward to helping drive this important work forward, while we search for a long-term candidate to take SRUC into its next chapter." 

David's awards include being named Cereal Grower of the Year 2024 and Farm Manager of the Year 2022 by the National Arable and Grassland Awards. 

To find out more about SRUC, visit www.sruc.ac.uk