ONE of Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ (ANM) most respected and high profile experts, Alan Hutcheon, has joined the board of ANM.

Almost 40 years since he joined the co-operative, Mr Hutcheon will attend his first board meeting at Thainstone on March, 13.

Group chairman Pete Watson said: “Alan has had an impressive career and is well-known to, and thoroughly respected by, members and customers alike.

“To have an auctioneer on board with almost 40 years’ experience is an obvious advantage, adding to our already incredibly diverse capabilities that reflect the strength and depth of our organisation from the core marts businesses, catering, and property, to vehicle and equipment sales, events and leisure,” said Mr Watson.

He added: “His contribution, drawing on experience gleaned from decades spent in the thick of the auction business and with contacts right across the rural sector, will be invaluable in informing our future strategy.”

Over the years, Mr Hutcheon’s roles have included selling prime cattle and canvassing livestock, together with the development of the Saturday plant, machinery and equipment sales. He came to Thainstone in 1990 and was promoted to the management team in 1992, ultimately becoming auction operations manager in 2015, retiring in December last year.

Mr Hutcheon comes from a farming background — his father Johnnie used to sell prime cattle at Thainstone — and the former Bridge of Don academy pupil still lives on the family farm: Greenden, near Balmedie.

He is now increasingly recognised beyond the auction ring too, thanks to his involvement in the BBC documentary — The Mart.

As well as this role, along with fellow auctioneers, Mr Hutcheon helped to raise around £1.5m for the ARCHIE Foundation with the high-profile sales of both the Aberdeen wild dolphin and Dundee Oor Wullie trail sculptures.