The UK’s leading farm inputs purchasing and combinable crops marketing business, AtlasFram Group, has appointed 49-year-old Richard Anscombe as Chief Executive.
Based at Framlingham in Suffolk, the farmer-owned business purchases every type of input for its 1050 members, who farm over 300,000 hectares throughout the UK.
With an annual turnover of £150 million, AtlasFram deals directly with more than 1200 manufacturers, importers and local suppliers, with product quality and provenance paramount. It also includes a specialist in-house department which markets Members’ grain, oilseeds and pulses.
A commercially-astute business leader, Richard joins AtlasFram after 10 years as Commercial Director of Active Web Solutions, the Suffolk-based Information Technology business which he co-founded in 2000. With offices in Ipswich and Prague, the company has a wide portfolio of local, national and international clients, including a number in the agricultural sector.
Educated at Harper Adams Agricultural College, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma in Agricultural Marketing and Business Administration, Richard began his career with Norsk Hydro Fertilisers in 1984 and as a Territory Manager was responsible for managing the company’s relationships with merchants, buying groups and farmers. After five years, Richard joined ISL/Strata Systems, where he was part of a team which bought the business from its parent company and subsequently Sales and Marketing Director.
Experienced across a diverse range of business sectors, Richard has a wealth of knowledge in Sales and Marketing, Finance, Business Change, Systems Implementation, Information Technology, Human Resources and Legal/Contractual issues. His greatest strength is the vision and ability to perceive need and deliver the best solution. Focused on understanding and fulfilling customers’
requirements, Richard is an intuitive innovator, critical thinker and natural team leader.
Commenting on his appointment, Richard said: "I am honoured to be managing a business which has been at the forefront of developments in the agricultural industry since it was founded in 1960 and also enormously encouraged by the Board’s passion for AtlasFram to be the best farmers’ buying group in the country. I look forward to getting to know the team, meeting Members and taking the business forward, so that it continues to fulfil their needs and expectations."
Richard, who lives at Wetheringsett in Suffolk with his wife and two teenage children, enjoys keeping fit, windsurfing, mountain biking, skiing and motor sport. A firm believer in ’putting back’ into the local community, he uses his technical and business skills to support Suffolk Young Farmers and has been instrumental in securing the future for Debenham Youth Football Club.
Robert Rous, Chairman of the AtlasFram Group, commented: "I am delighted to welcome Richard to the AtlasFram Group. The Board’s vision is for the business to be recognised as the best farm inputs purchasing and combinable crops marketing co-operative for committed Members who view us as a valued extension of their own business. Consequently, we invested a great deal of time, thought and consideration into finding a replacement for Ian Watson, our former Chief Executive who left us in May, a task in which we were greatly assisted by Martin Thorley, representing our recruitment consultants Merston Peters.
"A key part of the process was to identify a person with an understanding of the special characteristics of a farmer-owned business and what Members expect of it. They also had to have the strength of character and vision to help the business to adapt, be technologically aware and a strong leader with the ability to motivate staff and relate to farmers. We believe that Richard has those qualities, will develop the business and ensure that it continues to meet our Members’ requirements in an ever-changing industry where information technology is becoming ever more important."
