Vicky Nuttall, head of marketing at Forest Garden, has been voted in as the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association's new president.
She will take over from The Stewart Company's Nigel Thompson, and her current role of vice president will be filled by Steve Millington, sales director of Bosmere Products.

This month's GIMA AGM also saw Richard Pyrah from Kelkay taking on the role of honorary secretary, while Pest Stop Products' Andy Simmons remains in the post of honorary treasurer.

Six new council members were nominated: Alan Sheppard, Burgon & Ball; Tara Truman, William Sinclair; Colin Wetherley-Mein, Vitax; Chris Holloway, Town & Country; Rebecca Fairbairn, Westland; and David Carey, Mr Fothergill's Seeds. They join existing members Nigel Thompson; Sarah Oates, Strata Products; Matt Jackson, Briers; Rainer Schubert, Scotts Miracle-Gro; Chris Ramsden, Suttons Seeds; and Richard Bence, Tenax.

In her opening address, Ms Nuttall promised that during the coming year, in addition to the awards, day conferences and its charity golf day, GIMA will be adding Meet the Buyer days to its calendar of events.

The association also reported a healthy financial position and while a small operating loss was recorded in the last financial year this was the result of a bad debt. Membership fees have been frozen for the fifth successive year, and a break-even financial position is budgeted for the current operating year.