We’re a business that's growing fast
We’re a business that's growing fast through our ambitious investment plans and strong partnerships with our customers.
To support this, we have a team of more than 200 colleagues across our production sites and support functions.
Our co-operative governance structure includes our member council and board to ensure the business is run responsibly for the benefit of members, the planet and wider society.
Member Council
The Member Council oversees the Board to ensure the business acts in the best interest of its members, the planet and our people, whilst maintaining its co-operative principles. The Council also support communication between our farmers, the Board and Executive, ensuring members’ views are represented. The Member Council consists of seven farmer members and an independent chair.
Sean Rickard
Chairman of Members' Council
Louise Davies
Farmer Member - Cardigan
James Macpherson
Farmer Member - Staffordshire
Peter Rees
Farmer Member - South Wales
Andrew Smith
Farmer Member - Cumbria
Alan Trainer
Farmer Member -Lanarkshire
David Walker
Farmer Member - Cumbria
Robert Young
Farmer Member - Ayrshire
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is made up of farmer members and industry experts who together are well placed to oversee the governance of the business. The strategy is set by our experienced executive leadership team, who run the business day-to-day. All our members have the opportunity to become a Council Member and to stand for election to the Board.
Chris Thomas
Chairman
Chris Thomas
Chairman
Chris Thomas became First Milk chairman on August 1, 2018.
Chris has a strong track record of successful leadership in the food and dairy sectors, having held senior executive and non-executive positions across a range of businesses including Tulip UK, Adelie Foods, Bakkavor, St. Ivel, PepsiCo and Mars. He is currently non-executive Chairman of G’s Convenience Foods and Street Eats Food Ltd and a non-executive director of Espersen.
Shelagh Hancock
Chief Executive
Shelagh Hancock
Chief Executive
Shelagh has more than 30 years' experience in the food and agricultural supply sectors.
Prior to joining First Milk as CEO in 2017 she held several senior executive positions in UK dairy food companies including at the farmer-owned co-operative Milk Link and Glanbia Foods and in a family-owned business, Medina Dairy. She originally trained as an animal nutritionist and worked for more than 10 years in the agricultural supply sector.
Greg Jardine
Chief Financial Officer
Greg Jardine
Chief Financial Officer
Greg joined First Milk in 2010 and held several senior management and executive roles in finance and commercial before being appointed as chief financial officer and joining the board in September 2017.
Greg has many years dairy experience. Prior to First Milk he was with Lactalis McLelland as Industrial Finance Director.
Mike Smith
Vice Chairman and Farmer Director
Mike Smith
Vice Chairman and Farmer Director
Mike farms in partnership with his brother Peter at Pelcomb Farm near Haverfordwest. The 650-acre farm runs a 450-cow autumn block calving herd.
Mike has previously Chaired the Welsh Assembly Dairy Strategy Group and been a member of its Dairy Task Force.
Scott Calderwood
Farmer Director
Scott Calderwood
Farmer Director
Scott farms in partnership with his brother Matthew at Home Farm on the Rosneath Peninsula. The 800-acre farm runs a 360-cow Holstein herd.
Scott served the maximum three terms of office on the First Milk Member Council, covering areas in Scotland and Wales. He is also an assessor for NFU Mutual.
Frank Colhoun
Non-Executive Director
Frank Colhoun
Non-Executive Director
Frank is an experienced finance professional having held Chief Financial Officer roles in multinational manufacturing and industrial businesses including Lafarge, Honeywell and Novar Plc. He is now the Chief Financial Officer of family-run property development and investment business, Surplus Property Solutions.
Michael Fletcher
Non-Executive Director
Michael Fletcher
Non-Executive Director
In addition to his Non-Exec role at First Milk, Michael is Chief Executive at NISA. Before this he was Chief Commercial Officer at Co-op Food.
Prior to joining the Co-op, he worked at Tesco in a number of senior director-level commercial roles, both in the UK, Europe and Asia.