NFU director general Terry Jones to step down next year after a decade in post

The NFU’s long-standing director general Terry Jones has announced plans to step down next year, when he reaches the milestone of a decade running the farming union.

Jones, described as a “superb leader” by NFU president Tom Bradshaw, rejoined the union in 2016, some five years after he left for spells as the Food & Drink Federation’s communications director and then as director general of the Provision Trade Federation – a post he held from 2014 to 2016.

He will step down as DG in April 2026, a position he described as “the privilege of my career”, and one where he “worked with NFU members, officeholders and our amazing staff towards a better future for British farming and growing”.

Ten years “feels like the right moment to hand the reins on and to pursue fresh challenges”, he said. “Until then, my focus will be on continuously improving the operations of the NFU to ensure that it can deliver for members today and in the future.”

Jones’ hope was his longer-than-usual 12-month notice period would “ensure the NFU has the maximum time possible to appoint a successor as director general, allowing an extensive search and a thorough handover”.

Bradshaw said Jones had steered the NFU through “the most challenging periods for the industry”.

The NFU would “miss his wise counsel, inspiring leadership of our staff, his deep knowledge of food and farming, and his understanding of the workings of Whitehall and Westminster”, Bradshaw added.

“While his leadership on the big issues of the day and his political and policy knowledge are obvious, what is less seen outside the NFU is how he has strategically changed the NFU to be a modern, increasingly resilient organisation, delivering better for our members and being able to attract and retain some of the best staff in the business,” he said.

“There’s no doubt that his legacy in this regard is one of the key things that has made the NFU fit for the future, as well as more effective in the present.”