Lizzie Wilson has been announced as the new chief executive of the National Pig Association, replacing Zoe Davies who has taken up a new role with the NFU.

Ms Wilson joined the NPA in 2011, initially as regions manager, and has more recently worked as its policy services officer.

She has been responsible for liaising with members and government on planning and environmental legislation, and lobbying on the Farming Rules for Water. She has also worked on crisis management, with regards to animal rights activism and anti-farming rhetoric.

NPA chairman Rob Mutimer said: “I am delighted that we have appointed Lizzie. She was an outstanding candidate from a competitive recruitment process and brings fantastic levels of experience, industry knowledge and general know-how to the role.

“She has always shown tremendous passion for the pig sector during her time with the NPA and has achieved so much for the sector already.

“While this appointment will ensure continuity, Lizzie made it clear during the recruitment process that she has a real vision for how she wants to move the NPA forward in challenging and changing times.”

Lizzie said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be named as the new CEO of the NPA. Leading the organisation in such turbulent financial and political times, and with increasingly limited resource will of course be challenging. But with support from my very capable team, and the NPA’s Pig Industry Group, I am determined to help the sector navigate the next few months to ensure we emerge better and more resilient than ever.

“I’m so passionate about this industry and continue to believe it can have a bright future if everyone is pulling in the same direction.”

Lizzie, who was brought up on a farm, has worked in the UK pig industry for 19 years. She gained a thorough grounding in practical pig production with BQP, and then worked for Elanco for a short time, before taking up her ‘dream job’ at the NPA in 2011.