The New Year marks some changes for the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society in terms of staff development and new positions. 

Neil Caul’s role as assistant breed secretary has been refined and will see his title change to breeder consultant with responsibility for delivering the Society’s wide-ranging sales programme and herd visits to help members with stock selection.

Neil is a well known face in the cattle industry across the UK and has with a wealth of experience in all sectors of cattle breeding, both commercial and pedigree.

His experience in both breeding, buying and selling all types of cattle is invaluable to the Society, as is his knowledge and contact with the retail trade. Neil’s key responsibilities will focus on helping both existing and new breeders source new stock and market their animals to their best advantage.

As anticipation builds for the 2017 World Angus Forum, Hazel Baxter, former secretary of the Highland Cattle Society, has been recruited by the Society in a part time position to co-ordinate the event. Working alongside World Forum committee chairman Alex Sanger and his committee, as well as Conference Partners in Edinburgh, Hazel will also be the point of contact throughout the organisational process for regional Clubs when arranging mini tour details.  

In Hazel’s past role with the Highland Cattle Society, she organised the Highland Gathering in Glasgow and prior to that has worked in event management in various agricultural and food industries.  

Having handled the PR and marketing for the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society in a freelance capacity for eight years, Chrissie Long will be be joining the team on a full time basis from the middle of January 2016. 

In her new role as communications manager, Chrissie will be managing all communications and publicity material and will be working alongside Johnny, Neil and the presidential team on a number of new marketing projects. 

Along with her skill set as a past journalist and pedigree livestock marketer, Chrissie has a strong passion for the Aberdeen-Angus breed and will be bringing that to bear in her new role.

Commenting on the staff developments, chief exec Johnny Mackey said: “I’m delighted to be strengthening the team with the addition of Chrissie and Hazel and also to be bringing a greater focus to Neil’s invaluable work with breeders.”