Maren Franke steps into a new role at Yara, joining the company as Vice President for the UK and Ireland. She joined the business in Germany almost nine years ago as a Key Account Manager for the Northern regions of Schleswig-Holstein, where she hails from, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

With a background in international trade and a degree in business and economics, Maren's early career in the food trading sector took her across Europe and Southeast Asia, sparking a lasting interest in global markets and logistics.

In 2019, she transitioned to an international role as Commercial Manager for Benelux within Yara. As part of her role, she was responsible for all commercial fertiliser activities.  Her focus was on building strong partnerships and driving transformation of the business through curiosity, flexibility, and collaboration. Her motivation then, and going forward, has been a deep passion for commercial growth, leading through change, and a belief that transformation is not a project, rather a process that requires trust, courage, and the right people. 

As she takes the helm of Yara's operations in the UK and Ireland, Maren aims to steer the business in today's increasingly volatile markets. She emphasises the need for agility, resilience, and focus in the face of constant change, geopolitical tensions, and regulatory shifts which are continuing to impact on and reshape the agricultural industry.

"We must stay true to our mission: ensuring fair conditions for farmers, contributing to a nature-positive food future, and accelerating the transition toward decarbonised agriculture. To make this happen, we need the right policy and financial frameworks – ones that empower farmers and the industry with the right products, tools, innovation, and incentives needed to succeed," Maren says. 

Reflecting on her first 99 days in the role, she says one thing is certain: there's an impressive level of expertise, operational excellence, and a drive to make things better every day within Yara's UK and Ireland team. 

"That spirit is both humbling and energising. The business is literally blooming thanks to the UK's sunniest Q1 in years – with Ireland quickly catching up. Yet this season also reminds us how unpredictable weather patterns have become," she adds. 

Leaving her northern German roots behind, Maren is embracing this next chapter and is excited about collaborating with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders in the UK and Ireland to ensure that, in her words, they keep growing together, with purpose.