Well-known Aberdeen accountant and business adviser, Iain Fraser, has been appointed an executive director of Scotland’s leading farmers’ co-operative, ANM Group Ltd.

As well as joining the board, Mr Fraser will also take on an executive role with the company on a part-time basis to advise the board and Executive Team on policy development. He will continue to work two days a week with accountants, FRP Advisory, where he has been partner in charge of the practice’s Aberdeen and Inverness offices since FRP acquired the business 10 years ago.

“Mr Fraser’s extensive experience of corporate management covering a wide range of industries will be of invaluable assistance to our board and management team as we continue to develop, expand and diversify the ANM business,” said chief executive, Grant Rogerson.

“His farming background and 35 years’ experience as a corporate business adviser with leading accountancy practices will bring a valuable new dimension to our board and senior management.”

Mr Fraser said he was delighted to be invited to join ANM Group and hoped his experience of corporate business management would be of benefit to the board and management.

“ANM is widely recognised as a highly successful farmer-owned business with a strong board and management team and interests in land agency, plant, vehicle and machinery sales and catering as well as its core business of livestock auctions,” he said. “I look forward to playing a part in the continued expansion and success of the company.”

Aberdeen and Northern Marts operates auction centres at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, Caithness Livestock Centre, Wick and Lerwick in Shetland alongside Shetland Livestock Marketing Group.  ANM’s use of modern technology allows the company to operate UK-wide through the medium of live online sales and marketing. The company is also expanding its traditional trading area in Scotland with livestock procurement appointments in south and central Scotland.

Mr Fraser already has a strong working relationship with ANM through sales carried out by Thainstone Specialist Auctions, the company’s industrial and commercial division on behalf of FRP Advisory’s restructuring practice.

From a Ross-shire farming family, his father, Duncan, is a former director of Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd, and his mother, Marjory, was young farmers’ organiser in the North-east of Scotland before her marriage, Mr Fraser has maintained his farming interests as a former chair and former treasurer of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC) and is currently chair of the Ingliston Trust which owns the young farmers’ head office at the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston.

He is also a director of Tigh a’ Chomainn Camphill Ltd, which provides specialist independent care to adults with complex needs in Peterculter, and an elder and treasurer of Craigiebuckler Church, Aberdeen.

His wife, Madeleine, is also a former young farmers’ organiser in the North-east before joining North East headquartered agricultural company, Harbro Ltd in 1993. The couple have two of a family and have recently moved from Aberdeen to Banchory.