Two well-known faces in livestock trading circles are to head H&H Group’s agri-business operations together.

Senior staff members at the Carlisle-based Harrison & Hetherington, David Pritchard and Scott Donaldson have been promoted to joint managing directors.

Both men are well-known within the livestock auctioneering industry, and both have an in-depth knowledge of the Rosehill-based company’s business and livestock trading.

David, formerly operations director, will have the responsibility and focus for the operations of the business, while Scott, formerly the company’s sales director, will lead the sales team.

Both will be responsible for the overall running of the farmstock business, reporting directly to the group’s new chief executive, Richard Rankin.

Operating nine auction marts, across the north of England and Scottish Borders and employing 300 members of staff, H&H is at the core of H&H Group PLC’s agri-business operations.

David has been operations director at Harrison & Hetherington since 2001, and was previously their senior livestock auctioneer.

He has an in-depth knowledge having dedicated his entire career to the auctioneering industry.

He is responsible for managing the operations, infrastructure, logistics and events, at both Borderway and the individual mart sites.

David said he saw the appointment as a ‘tremendous opportunity’ to build on the success of the business: “It is important that we continue to provide a first-class and efficient service for our customers and try and get it right most of the time.

“Both Scott and I enjoy working together – it’s an important moment for the company, and a chance to look, again, at where we can take it, with new ideas and perspectives from Richard and our chairman Michael Scott.”

Scott has spent his entire career in livestock trading and auctioneering, and joined the H&H team eight years ago.

Building on strong foundations, across both the commerical and pedigree livestock sectors, he too has played a key role in the company’s growth and expansion.

Scott is also part of a team of 12, highly respected auctioneers.

He said: “We both enjoy working with the tremendous team we have here – and with the many loyal customers and buyers who are our livelihood and our partners in success.”

He added: “Both David and I are looking forward to this new challenge, and our most important objective going forward is to ensure that we have a strong and stable trading business, to maximise the potential for all of our customers.”

The company’s Exhibition Centre, based in Carlisle, hosts Agri Expo and Dairy Expo, which sees thousands of visitors and competitors each year.

The marts cover Newton St Boswells in the north, Wooler in the North East and Lockerbie, Kirkby Stephen, Middleton in Teesdale and Broughton-in-Furness, along with seasonal marts at Lazonby and Newcastleton.

In addition to livestock trading, Harrison and Hetherington also hosts regular auctions of machinery, tractors and farm equipment and, in addition, antiques and equipment, through its H&H Auction Rooms business.

Recently appointed non-executive chairman of H&H Group, Michael Scott, said: “With the recent appointment of a new chief executive, this is an appropriate time for this change. I know that Scott and David will work together, with our new chief executive, to build on the very strong market position and reputation Harrison & Hetherington has, with the business evolving to meet the demands of an ever-changing, trading environment.”