Quality Meat Scotland has appointed Sarah Millar as its new Chief Executive.

Ms Millar is currently Director of Market Intelligence and External Affairs at QMS, and with immediate effect becomes Chief Executive Designate, lined up to take over the reins as Chief Executive from Alan Clarke, who steps down in April 2022 after five years in the role.

Sarah joined QMS in 2018 as Director of Industry Development before taking on her current role in 2021. Widely known in farming circles, she was brought up on the family hill farm in Lanarkshire, and how lives in Angus on her husband’s family farm.

Graduating with an honours degree in Green Technology from SAC Auchincruive, Sarah’s career has spanned multiple parts of the Scottish farming supply chain, including working for multinational businesses, and as a rural business consultant.

Read more: Quality Meat Scotland chief Alan Clarke steps down

Prior to joining QMS, Sarah worked for Soil Association Scotland delivering a knowledge transfer programme. She has also been involved in an advisory capacity to the Scottish Government on the development of post-Brexit rural policy as a member of the National Council of Rural Advisors, as a member of the Food and Farming Advisory Group and the Suckler Beef Climate Scheme Implementation board.

QMS chair Kate Rowell said the appointment followed a robust recruitment process: “We look forward to Sarah stepping up into the top role at QMS. She brings a lifetime of knowledge and experience of the Scottish farming industry and has a good understanding of working at Director level within a Non-Departmental Public Body.”

Ms Rowell also paid tribute to Mr Clarke for his contribution over the past five years which has been a period of extensive change at QMS: “Alan will leave the organisation in a strong position to move forward and on behalf of the Board of QMS we wish him well in his journey to semi-retirement.”

Ms Millar's appointment was warmly welcomed by National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker, who said: “I’m delighted that QMS have appointed Sarah as their new chief executive. Having worked with her on a number of occasions, QMS’ decision to appoint her into this position doesn’t surprise me and I welcome the chance to strengthen the connections between NSA and QMS even further.
 
“QMS has a unique role and a responsibility to Scotland’s levy payers but on behalf of the NSA as a UK wide association, I am also pleased to see the collaborations in place between all our levy bodies – particularly in evidence to strengthen the reputation of our industry.  I’d like to thank Alan Clarke for all he has done in his five years as QMS chief executive, work that has put QMS in a good position for Sarah to build on.”
 
NSA Scottish Region chairman Jen Craig added: “We are extremely pleased to see this appointment made by QMS. Sarah brings tremendous amounts of industry knowledge and experience and thoroughly deserves this achievement. NSA Scottish Region wishes Sarah every success in her new role and look forward to continuing to work with her in the near future and beyond which will no doubt be busy with many challenges to overcome.”