Food and Drink North East (FADNE) has announced the appointment of Shelley Johnson as Programme Manager.
Shelley Johnson joins FADNE to manage the organisation’s coordination, delivery and reporting of the Rural Growth Programme (RGP), a three-year initiative funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority designed to support rural businesses in growth and resilience.
In this role, Shelley will act as the central point for programme performance, stakeholder coordination and reporting, while working closely with partners and businesses across the region.
“We are so pleased to welcome Shelley to the Programme Manager role,” says Chris Jewitt, CEO of FADNE. “Having worked with Shelley previously and seen first-hand the depth of her expertise, professionalism and drive, we know that she brings a wealth of experience and a real understanding of the sector, and will play a pivotal role in delivering the Rural Growth Programme. We’re excited to have her on board and to see the impact she will make.”
In its role as a key delivery partner of the Rural Growth Programme, FADNE will lead on a dedicated food and drink offer, delivering tailored one-to-one business support, practical workshops, and valuable networking opportunities to businesses across the food, drink and hospitality sectors in the North East.
The appointment of Shelley Johnson to Programme Manager follows on from updated business structure changes to FADNE that took place earlier this year for the current FADNE directors and team. Chris Jewitt remains the CEO and founder of Food and Drink North East, with Ian Pilkington as the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Steve Wheaton as the Chief Growth Officer (CGO), and Rosie Jenkinson as Communications Manager, with Susan Justice, Head of Business Development at Bidfood, appointed as the new Chair.
To find out more and to register your expression of interest in the Rural Growth Programme, please visit: www.fadne.org/rural-growth-programme.
The North East Rural Growth Programme is funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic
Authority (North East MSA), with Northumberland County Council acting as the Lead Delivery
Partner. Supported by Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Northumberland National
Park Authority, Food and Drink North East, and North East Enterprise Agency.
