TOP dog breeder John Keene has joined the Country Land and Business Association as its new territory manager for Herefordshire, South Shropshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. He takes over from David Price, who has retired after 27 years in the position.

Mr Keene, who now has a home in Evesham, has lived in the area for more than thirty years and worked in the agricultural supply industry, specialising in seeds and as technical manager for a national fertiliser company. Latterly, he has been a financial adviser working in pensions and IHT planning with a major private bank and as an independent financial adviser, where he helped administer an agricultural merchants' private pension scheme.

Outside work Mr Keene, with his wife, breeds and trains Golden Retriever gundogs and picks up at several local shoots. The couple have had great success in the show ring, having bred the best of breed Golden Retriever at Crufts in 2012.

His appointment gives the CLA, which represents the interests of farmers, landowners and rural businesses, a continued regional presence at a time when a raft of legislation and threats means that belonging to a strong membership organisation is now seen as essential for economic survival.

He said: "I am delighted to be joining an organisation that is growing, partly in response to threats to property rights, such as compulsory purchase and HS2 and partly to access the networking, support and advice that enables farms and rural businesses to succeed in a competitive environment. I am confident that our members are in the best possible position to help the rural sector drive the economy as a whole, to the benefit of all.”