Two independent board members have been appointed to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
Elena Lokteva and James Standen will commence three-year terms on 1 May 2026. These appointments have all been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, as published by the Cabinet Office. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.
The AHDB is a statutory levy board that supports the efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of the agriculture sector in the United Kingdom. It delivers market intelligence, research and knowledge exchange to help farmers, growers and the wider supply chain improve sustainability, performance and overall industry growth.
Biographies
Elena Lokteva has over 30 years of commercial and financial experience across capital intensive and regulated sectors. She has held senior international financial leadership roles, including serving as Chief Financial Officer in automotive retail, cross‑border joint ventures, and investment management. Her board experience spans healthcare, energy, automotive, manufacturing, and retail organisations, where she has chaired Audit, Risk, Finance, and Performance Committees.
James Standen is an experienced agricultural manager. He has over two decades of leadership experience across farm, estate and agribusiness operations, where he combined strong strategic and financial management capability with practical and operational expertise. His career includes senior roles in farm and estate management and consultancy including responsibility for large scale arable and livestock enterprises, multi-site operations and commercial development. James is the Farms Director for Newcastle University and farms in partnership with his wife on a tenanted farm in North Yorkshire. Alongside his executive roles, he has contributed extensively to the wider agricultural sector through board, council and governance appointments, bringing well-established skills in communication, mentoring and stakeholder engagement.