A new director has been appointed to the board of agricultural purchasing group Anglia Farmers (AF).

Robert Alston will bring years of corporate finance experience to his new role as a director.

Robert inherited his family farm in Norfolk 15 years ago and has been managing the business while working full time in the City, most recently in corporate finance at Deutsche Bank.

He is now relocating permanently to Norfolk, where he lives with his wife and two young children.

His farming business, Silfield Ltd, crops wheat, barley and oilseed rape across 435ha as well as managing grassland, woodland and the Carleton Herd of Red Poll cattle.

He said: “I inherited the family farm, which is a beef, arable and property business, and have been something of a ‘part-time farmer’ as I’ve been working in the City and spending weekends in Norfolk.

“As I have been working outside the industry, I think I come to farming with a very pragmatic, business-focused view. I hope to bring my business management knowledge and financial acumen – particularly regarding working capital and cash flow - to the AF board.”

Robert will sit on the AF Board and on the AF Business Management Executive.