NFU Cymru has appointed NFU West Midlands regional director John Mercer as its new director.

Mercer will replace Mary James in the role when she retires in September. He joined NFU Cymru in 2004 as a farm policy adviser, before moving to NFU headquarters to become a senior policy adviser.

NFU Cymru president Stephen James hailed his “knowledge, experience, and farming background in Carmarthenshire.”

Mercer claimed “representation of NFU Cymru members has never been more important.” NFU director general Andy Robertson said Mercer’s leadership would ensure the union’s service would “continue to be of the highest quality.”