FARMWAY, the major agricultural co-operative, has appointed two new directors and a chief financial executive.

David Maughan, a well-known and respected farmer from Morton Tinmouth near Darlington, joins the board.

He sits on the NFU's North-East Regional Livestock Board and is a director of NFU Mutual. He has also served on Farmway's Silo Committee for many years.

John Hutchinson, chairman of Farmway, said he was pleased they had recruited such a prominent and knowledgeable farmer.

Tony Howard, managing director of Lewis & Cooper of Northallerton, has been appointed a non-executive, non-farmer director.

"Over the past few years Farmway has diversified and developed a chain of successful Country Stores and Tony will enable us to take the next step in their development," said Peter Hull, chief executive.

Mr Howard, who has served on several agricultural committees and is past president of North Yorkshire County Show, said Farmway had a young, dynamic retail team. "I feel with my experience and knowledge we can continue to grow the business," he said.

John Simpson was recently appointed chief financial executive at Farmway with overall responsibility for the accounting and administration functions, and particularly a new IT system.

He has a wealth of experience, having previously worked for Cranswick Foods and Durham Waste Management.

"All three appointments are significant as they demonstrate the desire of Farmway to develop its overall business in the face of the many changes agriculture is facing," said Mr Hull. "We are fortunate that we have been able to attract such high calibre individuals and I am looking forward to working with them."

Farmway is based at Piercebridge but has nine Country Stores in the North-East and Yorkshire.