FROM OCTOBER the Home-Grown Cereals Authority will have a new chief executive, Jonathan Cowens.

With 25 years experience in the cereals and oilseeds industry, in recent years as managing director of Centaur Grains and Lingrain, he takes over from Paul Biscoe who is to retire in November.

Mr Cowens was GAFTA representative on the board of the HGCA from 1998 to 2003, has served on both its finance and audit committees and its strategic review group, and from 1991 to 2000 was a member of British Cereals Exports on missions to EU countries.