The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has appointed David Gregory as chairperson from 1 March.

David Gregory

David Gregory: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with such an outstanding and high-quality industry"

He brings to the position over four decades’ experience spanning the entire food chain from agriculture to aquaculture, fisheries through to food production and retail to food service.

Mr Gregory said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with such an outstanding and high-quality industry and to supporting the excellent work being done by SAIC. The aquaculture industry is hugely important to the rural economy in Scotland and I look forward to playing a part in delivering the 2030 plan for Scottish aquaculture.”

Funding experience

Currently, he is president of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, chairman of Acoura, non-executive director of 2 Sisters Food Group, trustee and past chairman of the board of trustees at the British Nutrition Foundation and a member of the governing council and chair of the audit committee of The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

A chartered scientist, he is a member of the industrial advisory board of the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh and a visiting professor at the University of Reading Centre for Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy.

Formerly, he was non-executive director of the British Retail Consortium Trading Ltd, chairman of Red Tractor Assurance and director of technology at Marks and Spencer (M&S), where he was one of the authors of Plan A – the retailer’s 100-point sustainable business plan.

Mr Gregory replaces Jack Perry CBE.