Ringlink Scotland today announced a key leadership appointment, naming Grant Ireland as its new General Manager amidst a period of positive growth and strategic expansion.
This key appointment comes as the business progresses with its anticipated merger with Highland Business Services.
The newly created position will provide both strategic leadership and operational management across Ringlink’s separate divisions of machinery, labour provision and commodity trading.
Grant will be responsible for overseeing key supplier contracts, ensuring best practices are followed for maximum efficiency and he reports directly to the Managing Director.
While predominantly based at the Laurencekirk headquarters, he will also divide his time among Ringlink’s other current regional offices in Elgin, Oldmeldrum, Coupar Angus and Cupar.
Grant brings a wealth of agricultural expertise to Ringlink. He is based outside Huntly and joins from Frontier Agriculture, where he served as Team Leader for the north of Scotland. His background includes Livestock Procurement Manager at McIntosh Donald and over 12 years of hands-on experience working on mixed farms.
Pivotal role
Graham Bruce, Managing Director of Ringlink Scotland, said: “We welcome Grant to the team in this pivotal new role as the right person to drive our business forward and enhance the service we provide to our members.
“As a non-profit making, member-owned organisation, our core purpose is to serve that membership and Grant’s leadership will be instrumental in achieving this.
“The industry is constantly evolving and with the business continuing to grow, we need to invest the time and innovation to grasp the right opportunities. Grant’s expertise will allow us to do even more to support our membership.”
Challenges and opportunities
Originally from Fife, Grant has lived in Aberdeenshire for the past two decades, having moved to the area to study agriculture at SRUC Craibstone.
Grant said: “I’m really excited to be joining Ringlink and looking forward to both the challenges and opportunities this new role presents.
“To be honest, it feels like a culmination of my career so far, bringing together my experience in farming, red meat and the arable sectors.
“Ringlink’s standing as a leading Scottish business truly appeals to me, especially with its strong local presence through our regional offices.
“By leveraging my network, organisational skills and strong work ethic within this member-owned co-operative, we can truly commit to finding the best deals and services for our members.”
Beyond his professional roles, Grant is married to Nikki, owns the Glenisla Beltex flock and is a director of the Beltex Sheep Society.
Business merger
This announcement coincides with the advanced stages of Ringlink Scotland’s merger plans with farming co-operative Highland Business Services.
The membership of Highland Business Services has already voted in favour of the merger, and will hold their second meeting on Friday 11 July for the final confirmation vote.
Ringlink Scotland members attended at a meeting yesterday (2 July) on the merger in Laurencekirk addressed by Chairman James Porter and Graham Bruce.
If the deal goes ahead, the merger could take place on 1 August and the new business would have a combined membership of more than 4,000 farmers and crofters and an annual turnover of £100million. It would take the Ringlink Scotland name and could involve about 450 workers in total, operating in the Highlands, Argyll, Angus and Fife.
