ANM Group, one of Scotland’s leading and most active farming, food and finance businesses, welcomes to the board one of its most respected and high-profile experts.
Almost 40 years since he joined the co-operative, Alan Hutcheon will attend his first board meeting at Thainstone on March 13.
ANM Group chairman Pete Watson said: “Alan has had an impressive career and is well-known to, and thoroughly respected by, members and customers alike.
“To have an auctioneer on board with almost 40 years’ experience is an obvious advantage, adding to our already incredibly diverse capabilities that reflect the strength and depth of our organisation from the core marts businesses, catering, and property, to vehicle and equipment sales, events and leisure.
“His contribution, drawing on experience gleaned from decades spent in the thick of the auction business and with contacts right across the rural sector, will be invaluable in informing our future strategy.”
Over the years, Mr Hutcheon’s roles have included selling prime cattle and canvassing livestock, together with the development of the Saturday plant, machinery and equipment sales. He came to Thainstone in 1990 and was promoted to the management team in 1992, ultimately becoming auction operations manager in 2015, retiring in December last year.
Mr Hutcheon said: “It’s an honour to join the board and once again be part of ANM Group.
“The rural sector has always faced challenges, but what’s always impressed me is the way the group has managed to adapt and move with the times, while staying focused on supporting its members and customers.
“For example, we were one of the first businesses of our kind to pioneer internet bidding, which has proven its worth especially at our Saturday sales. The ongoing development of our online presence — another example — is showing itself to be a particularly effective way of communicating with members and customers.”
Mr Hutcheon comes from a farming background — his father Johnnie used to sell prime cattle at Thainstone — and the former Bridge of Don academy pupil still lives on the family farm: Greenden, near Balmedie.
And he is now increasingly recognised beyond the auction ring, thanks to his involvement in the BBC documentary — The Mart — as well his role, along with fellow auctioneers, raising around £1.5m for the ARCHIE Foundation with the high-profile sales of both the Aberdeen wild dolphin and Dundee Oor Wullie trail sculptures.
Welcoming the appointment, ANM Group chief executive Grant Rogerson said: “The group’s contribution to, and significance in, the local economy is fundamental to growing our influence; and strengthening the voice of the industry, regardless of the economic or political backdrop.
“Alan, who has been such an important part of our co-operative for many years, with his extensive knowledge; his huge network and the strong relationships he’s built is ideally placed, as you can imagine, to represent the best interests of our members, our customers, and our core marts business at a strategic level.”