Defra’s head of agricultural sectors team for meat, poultry and dairy, John Powell, will be hanging up his civil services duties on Monday 13 April 2026 for the red meat trades body.
He will officially take over as chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) on Monday 13 April 2026, as current chief executive Nick Allen retires.
Allen’s departure comes after almost a decade at helm at BMPA; during which he guided the association and its members through particularly turbulent times, including Brexit and the pandemic.
Prior to this, he was director of AHDB - agriculture and horticulture development board.
Commenting on the transition, Allen said: “After nine years at the BMPA, I am delighted to hand over the reins to John Powell. It has been a great privilege to serve as CEO during a period of profound change for the industry, and I would like to sincerely thank our members and, above all, the BMPA team for their unwavering support. This is a truly great industry, and I am immensely proud to have been part of it.”
He added that he will remain available to support the transition.
Powell brings with him extensive experience from senior roles in UK government, through his international work as an adviser to a number of Central and Eastern European Governments, and his engagement over many years with the wider agri-food sector, alongside his most recent role at Defra.
Speaking on his appointment, the incoming CEO said he is “excited” to take on the role and will continue to build on the “strong foundations” established by Allen.
He continued: “I look forward to working closely with members, the government, regulators and industry stakeholders to ensure the meat industry’s voice is clearly heard on the key issues it faces.”
BMPA chairman Tom Kirwan offered his gratitude to Allen as he welcomed Powell: “On behalf of all BMPA members, I would like to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Nick for his years of service to our industry. His even-handed approach, tenacious advocacy and ability to work with disparate interest groups has been invaluable.
“Looking to the future of BMPA, John Powell brings an impressive breadth of experience at the highest levels of government, as well as strong relationships across industry stakeholders. His understanding of the challenges facing the UK meat sector will ensure BMPA continues to provide effective representation for its members.”