Garden & Leisure Group operations director was voted in at the HTA AGM yesterday, replacing Scotsdales Garden Centre md Caroline Owen, who stepped down from the role after two years.
Before joining Garden & Leisure as retail director in 2001, Ms Paris's background was in high street retailer, including time spent working at Harrods. In 2003, she became operations director for the group, where she is responsible for retail operations, buying and HR.

Outgoing president Caroline Owen was awarded the Charles Pearson Memorial medal at the HTA Garden Futures Conference for her outstanding contribution to the horticultural industry.

Commenting on the award at the conference, Ms Paris said: "Caroline Owen's business at Scotsdales is an outstanding exemplar of good practice for the whole industry. Her knowledge, encouragement and endorsement have been absolutely invaluable to the HTA, as has her ability to start pulling the industry together behind a common cause. I congratulate her on receiving this award."

Ms Paris herself was awarded the Charles Pearson Memorial medal last October, becoming the seventh woman in 80 years to have received the accolade from the HTA.

Backing Ms Paris as vice president is Growforth managing director Stan Green. As well as running his plant supply business, Mr Green is a member of the HTA board and Ornamentals committee and has also represented Scotland on HTA Council. He is a founder of the Scottish Horticultural Initiative and is currently on the board of Green Business Fife.

The HTA Conference took place at the Millbank Tower, London on October 12. It was preceded by a dinner the night before, which saw Caroline Owen address members for the last time in her capacity as HTA president. Hilier md Andy McIndoe also provided fantastic entertainment as the after dinner speaker.