Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Director operating in the Agriculture space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
William de Klein
Director of Agriculture & Business Development of Karro Food Group
With a Food Technical and Production Management background, William has 15 years of experience in senior management roles within meat processing sites. William leads our Agriculture and Trading agenda – ensuring through relationships with our farmers that we deliver meat quality to the exact requirements of our customer. William is also responsible for the profitable growth of our international trade activities.
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About Karro Food Group: Karro Food Group is meat processors with pork processing plants.
Chris White
Commercial Director of Karro Food Group
Chris joined Karro in July 2014 and was promoted to the board as Commercial Director for the group in January 2016. Having been in commercial roles for over 18 years within the food industry he has extensive knowledge of our customer base. Latterly Chris was an Account Director at Cranswick PLC and has over 12 years’ experience in the pork industry. He is responsible for the management of our commercial, marketing and product development functions ensuring we are delivering at all levels for our customers.
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About Karro Food Group: Karro Food Group is meat processors with pork processing plants.
Kate Allum
Non-Executive Director of the Board of Directors of Origin Enterprises
Kate Allum was appointed to the Origin Board on 1 October 2015. Kate is currently a Non-Executive Director at Cranswick plc where she is a member of both the Audit and the Remuneration and Nomination Committee. She has also previously held a number of senior roles in the food and agricultural sector, including Chief Executive of First Milk Limited and Head of European Supply Chain for McDonald’s Restaurants.
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About : Origin Enterprises plc manufactures, supplies, and distributes agri-service products. It offers agronomy, technology, and strategic
David W Garrett
Managing Director of Fane Valley
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About Fane Valley: Fane Valley is a Agri-food industry co-operative involved in the processing of milk, red meat, cereals, potatoes, animal feeds and supplies.
Katrin Burt
Executive Director of Grosvenor Food & AgTech
Katrin joined Intersouth Partners in 2004 and works primarily with the technology team. She joined Intersouth from London-based HSBC, one of the largest banking and financial services organizations in the world. At HSBC she moved through a series of roles, starting as a foreign exchange trader in London, managing portfolios of treasury products and equities in Tokyo and eventually moving to a business development role managing the annual operating plan for the bank’s billion-dollar Global Markets Europe Division. Katrin serves on the executive committee and board of directors of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), is a director of the North Carolina Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology and lectures at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. She holds a B.A. from Oxford University, an M.B.A. from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and an M.S. in Microsystems and Nanotechnology from Cranfield University.
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About Grosvenor Food & AgTech, Syngenta Ventures: Grosvenor Food & AgTech is an international investor in food and agriculture businesses.
Anthony James
Executive Director of Grosvenor Food & AgTech
Anthony joined Wheatsheaf from Grosvenor, where he spent five years as Group Corporate Finance Director. Prior to Grosvenor, Anthony was Head of Energy & Natural Resources M&A at KPMG Corporate Finance where he led a wide range of acquisition, disposal and other strategic advisory assignments across the sector. His previous roles have included senior finance and corporate development positions at Philips Electronics, both in the Netherlands and China
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About Grosvenor Food & AgTech: Grosvenor Food & AgTech is an international investor in food and agriculture businesses.
John Matcham
Founder – International Business Development Director of Greengage Lighting
John Matcham is the Technical Director and Product Development at Light Science Technologies. Science and Food Technology Development
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About Greengage Lighting, Light Science Technologies: Agri-Tech company providing LED lighting induction systems.
Chris Nelson
Director of Zero Carbon Farms
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About Zero Carbon Farms: Shaping the future of the growing industry to accelerate the world’s transition to carbon negative farming.
Tim Chambers
Co-Founder & Director of InspiraFarms
Tim Chambers is the Co-Founder and Director at InspiraFarms.
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About Carbon13, InspiraFarms, Offgrid Finance, Value for Women: InspiraFarms™ supplies modular, FOOD-SAFE certification ready modular processing and cold storage technology.
Berwyn Clarke
Non Executive Director of PBD Biotech
Berwyn is an experienced senior manager in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industry. In 2005 he founded a new diagnostics company in the UK, Lab21 Limited, prior to establishing network of diagnostics industry interests in 2013. He is currently Chairman of NALIA Systems Ltd and PBD Biotech Ltd and non-executive director at Protein Logic. He is currently also Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Cardiff University and is a senior advisor to the Welsh Government Life Sciences sector.
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About Glyconics, PBD Biotech: PBD Biotech specialises in novel phage-based diagnostics for the veterinary, agriculture and human health sectors
Ben Swift
Director of Research and Development of PBD Biotech
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About PBD Biotech: PBD Biotech specialises in novel phage-based diagnostics for the veterinary, agriculture and human health sectors
Peter Jackson
Director of Redag Crop Protection
Dr. Peter Jackson, also known as Pete, is a Co-Founder of Redx Pharma PLC, RedAg Crop Protection Ltd., ADC Biotechnology Ltd., YProTech Ltd and Reaxa Ltd. Dr. Jackson has over twenty five years’ experience in the sector including the commercialisation of innovative technologies and forming, funding, development and exiting of technology startups. He is a serial life sciences entrepreneur based in the North West of England. He served as Vice President of Piramal Healthcare UK Limited (also known as NPIL Pharmaceuticals (UK) Limited and Avecia Pharmaceuticals Limited) since 2002. He held a series of sales and business management roles in the UK, Europe and Japan with ICI and Zeneca. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Reaxa Ltd. He serves as the Non-Executive Chairman at BiVictriX Therapeutics Ltd. He serves as the Chairman of YProTech Ltd. He provides YProTech with valuable strategic guidance and commercial support. He served as the Chairman of the Board at Redx Pharma Plc. He serves as a Director of Blackley Holdings Ltd, ADC Biotechnology Ltd. and Yorkshire Process Technology Ltd. He served as a Non Executive Director of Redx Pharma Plc since September 2014 until March 31, 2017. Dr. Jackson is a Graduate of the Universities of East Anglia, UK and Massachusetts USA, Dr. Jackson gained his PhD at Durham University, UK before joining ICI Fine Chemicals in 1989.
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About AMR Centre, Redag Crop Protection: The engine of discovery for the agrochemical industry.
Apostolos Papadopoulos
Managing Director of Crop Intellect
Dr. Apostolos Papadopoulos founded Crop Intellect in November 2011, since which he has been serving as its managing director.
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About Crop Intellect: Crop Intellect operates a research and development company that develops agricultural technologies that improves crop productivity.
Paul Myall
Head Of Sales and Sales Director of Tugo Food Solutions
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About Tugo Food Solutions: Tugo is an award-winning B2B foodservice company at the cutting edge of food retail.
Mark Salter
Director of Cooking for Aisha
Mark Salter is the owner of Cooking for aisha limited, the brand behind a range of exotic halal recipes from around the globe. Cooking for aisha’s yummy recipes are created with a wide variety of healthy ingredients, providing health and weaning benefits for your little one. These wonderful ingredients mean that babies also love the taste.
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About : A range of nutritious Stage 2 & Stage 3 baby food pouches – packed full of natural, healthy ingredients for your little one.
Mike Panteli
Financial Director of Engage Agro Europe
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About Engage Agro Europe: Engage Agro Europe specializes in crop enhancement and nutritional products for agriculture, horticulture, turf, and ornamentals.
Jack Wrangham
Founder and Director of Drone Ag
Jack Wrangham is the founder and director of Drone AG.
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About Drone Ag: Practical, hassle-free drone automation and AI for Agriculture
Mark Davies
Senior Director, Head of Digital and Multi Channel Marketing (International) of Zoetis
Mark has extensive experience in developing and executing successful digital business strategies in start-up, SME and Large Corporate environments.He was a Founder and Sales & Marketing Director of u-rooms ltd in 2009, prior to that he was the e-commerce and new media manager for FTSE 250 UNITE Group, a provider of student accommodation.
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About Zoetis: Zoetis is committed to research, combining to help protect the health of pets and farm animals and the productivity.
Ella Mills
Founder and Brand Director of Deliciously Ella
Ella Mills is the Founder and Brand Director of Deliciously Ella.
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About Deliciously Ella: Deliciously Ella is a food company based in London.
Thomas Hamilton
Commercial Director of Weedingtech
Thomas Hamilton joined Weedingtech as Chief Commercial Officer in 2021.
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About Weedingtech, Weedingtech: Weedingtech is a British company that designs and manufactures innovative weed control technologies for the amenity and utility markets.
Dan Robinson
Managing Director of Eurofins Agro UK
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About Eurofins Agro UK: Eurofins Agro UK provides precision analytics and unique insight to help farmers and growers become efficient and sustainable.
Sam Ochieng
Director Marketing & Distribution of SACOMA
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About SACOMA: SACOMA develops and supplies innovative healthy and FREE FROM snacks.
Perez Ochieng
CEO & Director of SACOMA
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About SACOMA: SACOMA develops and supplies innovative healthy and FREE FROM snacks.
Derek Stewart
Director of Advanced Plant Growth Centre
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About Advanced Plant Growth Centre: APGC develops science that underpins commercial, economic, and environmental benefits in the agriculture, food, and beverage sectors.
Jazz Ghosh
Director of The Foodfellas
Jazz has worked in the food industry all of his life and is the creative driving force within The FoodFellas. He is one of the leading people responsible for generating interest in American, Mexican and Tex–Mex cuisine within the UK and European Foodservice market, having worked as an executive chef for some of the leading brands, then as a consultant chef responsible for menu design and for many years as a food supplier. Jazz has created literally hundreds of exciting and innovative products and dishes which are used in restaurants across the UK today.
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About The Foodfellas: The Foodfellas is supplies innovative, authentic, high quality food products from around the world to the foodservice market in the UK.
Tony Levy
Director of The Foodfellas
Tony has spent the last 25 years working in the food industry, having set up or been involved in managing various food manufacturing, importation and distribution businesses. He is involved in all commercial aspects of the business, including sales.
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About The Foodfellas: The Foodfellas is supplies innovative, authentic, high quality food products from around the world to the foodservice market in the UK.
Simon Bernstein
Director of The Foodfellas
Simon is passionate about good food. A trained chef, his entire working career has been spent in food. Prior to forming The FoodFellas, Simon headed up the national accounts team at a leading food wholesaler / distributor, managing the accounts of some leading UK pub and restaurant chains.
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About The Foodfellas: The Foodfellas is supplies innovative, authentic, high quality food products from around the world to the foodservice market in the UK.
Marc Werter
Director of The Foodfellas
Marc has been involved in food importation and distribution for many years, with a leading national importer distributor. He manages the operational and logistics functions of the business and is also involved in all commercial aspects, including sales.
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About The Foodfellas: The Foodfellas is supplies innovative, authentic, high quality food products from around the world to the foodservice market in the UK.
Olly Hiscocks
Director & Founder of Olly’s Olives
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About Olly’s Olives: Olly’s Olives is the world’s first 100% natural, unpasteurised snack pouch of olives with no artificial additives.
Harsh Dahiya
Founder / Director of Harvesto
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About Harvesto: Harvesto is a new age technology company focused on developing products for agriculture, healthcare, energy and electronics sector.
Oliver Hilbourne
Founder and Director of Outfield
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About Outfield: Bringing the future to fruit farming
James Mcdougall
Commercial Director of Outfield
Jim McDougall joined Outfield Technologies as Commercial Director in 2016.
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About Outfield: Bringing the future to fruit farming
Steven Adams
Research & Development Director of Plant Impact
Steve has a degree in Horticulture and a PhD from the University of Reading. For 12 years he was a Principle Investigator and Protected Crops Commodity Specialist at Warwick HRI (formerly Horticulture Research International), where he managed a team focusing on the physiology of glasshouse crops. The focus of his research was investigating and modelling how the aerial environment affects plant growth and development. He has been a scientific adviser for AHDB Horticulture since 2003, and is a past Associate Editor of the Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology. He has extensive experience of managing research projects, after leading numerous projects funded by DEFRA and AHDB. He holds the Rudolf Hermanns Foundation Award for outstanding achievements in viticultural and horticultural sciences.
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About Plant Impact: products manage a plant’s natural responses to stress factors to build its resilience.
Luke Berkeley
Managing Director of Newquay Orchard
Luke likes to dream big and often needs reigning in. He has a strong background in ecology, business, and finance. He also worked within the mental health sector for a number of years, so he’s a bit of an all rounder (or a master of none, but don’t tell him that!)
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About Newquay Orchard: Newquay Orchard is a rural escape in the heart of Newquay.
Douglas Martin
Managing Director of MiAlgae
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About MiAlgae: MiAlgae is a new-age microalgal production company .
Paul Adams
Technology Director of Evogro
CTO @Evogro. Graduated from Imperial College, London with a MEng, Electrical & Electronic Engineering. 8 years at Altien Ltd, an enterprise software company as a developer, technical consultant, pre-sales, dev lead.
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About Evogro: Evogro makes plant growing systems for chefs
