David Webster will take up the position as LEAF Chief Executive in September 2023, taking over from interim CEO and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Philip Wynn, who has been overseeing the organisation following the sad death of founder Caroline Drummond MBE, in May 2022.
David joins LEAF from the UK Grocery Division of Associated British Foods (ABF) where he is currently Director of Sustainability and External Affairs. David joined ABF via W. Jordans (Cereals) Ltd and worked closely with founders Bill and David Jordan to publicise the Jordans breakfast cereal brand and its longstanding commitment to wildlife-friendly farming. Jordans was acquired by ABF in 2008 and David subsequently went on to lead sustainability for the Jordans & Ryvita Company, before being promoted to the position of Divisional Director for Grocery in 2017. He has a deep interest in farming and wildlife, stemming from this work, and in particular the formation of the highly respected Jordans Farm Partnership, through which he worked alongside longstanding farm suppliers to the Jordans business together with LEAF, the Wildlife Trusts, and The Prince’s Countryside Fund.
LEAF is among the UK’s leading organisations delivering assurance and insight into climate positive and agro-ecological farming. Its charitable vision is a global farming and food system that delivers climate-positive action, builds resilience, and supports the health, diversity and enrichment of our food, farms, environment, and society. LEAF develops and promotes the uptake of more sustainable farming through its UK wide network of Demonstration Farms and Innovation Centres, technical tools, and training. It also works extensively to engage and inspire future generations about the value and importance of sustainable farming systems through LEAF Education and public engagement events such as LEAF Open Farm Sunday.
The LEAF Marque is a leading global assurance system that recognises more sustainably farmed products. UK retailers and food processors are now widely adopting it to accelerate their sustainability commitments and with thousands of new members now embracing the principles of Integrated Farm Management, which underpin LEAF Marque, the impact on global farm production systems will be transformational.
David said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at LEAF at a moment in time when there is such a clear and urgent need to accelerate positive environmental change at scale. LEAF is at the forefront of the global transition towards more regenerative farming systems, providing assurance to producers and inspiration to people of all ages, particularly younger generations, about the fundamental importance of sustainable agriculture. I feel a great sense of humility at being asked to build on the enormous legacy of Caroline Drummond MBE, who I knew well as a tireless campaigner, both for the farming community and for environmental considerations sitting at the very heart of best-practice farm management.”