Founded originally as farmstock auctioneers in 1870 with its Borderway Mart at Carlisle, and now one of the largest livestock sales centres in the UK, the group today embraces machinery and vehicle auctions, brokerage, commercial printing, insurance, chartered surveying and estate agency.
Michael, who was born and brought up on the family farm at East Coanwood, on the Whitfield Estate near Haltwhistle, and farmed throughout his adult life at nearby Thirlwall Castle, assumed the reins on Sunday.
As such, he has been involved with H&H for as long as he can remember, initially buying and selling Blue-Grey cattle at Harrison and Hetherington’s Newcastleton, Roadhead and Haltwhistle Auction Marts, and more recently trading continental cattle at Borderway.
He has been a board member for the last 13 years and now that he is semi-retired – he and his wife Tina have resettled in Lanercost – he said he felt the time was right to step up to the plate.
“It is both an honour and a privilege to be invited to take up this role,” he said.
“As chairman, my aim is to work with my fellow board members to support and help integrate our new chief executive into the organisation, and to continue to further develop both our agricultural and commercial enterprises for the benefit of shareholders and all stakeolders.
“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Brian Richardson who has been our CEO for the last 10 years and to wish him well in the future. During this time the business has evolved and grown considerably.
“Going forward, our aim is to build on our assets and to work with our tremendous teams of staff to take the group forward to the next level and to strengthen our position in the areas of business, and locations, in which we operate.”
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