MHA appoints food industry expert as ESG director

MHA has strengthened its ESG and sustainability team with the appointment of Annie Walton, formerly the general manager of Fancy Plants, as ESG director based in the group’s Peterborough office.

Walton has 25 years’ experience in the food sector, working in both fresh food and grocery businesses as well as brand companies at board level. At Fancy Plants, she was in charge of leading the organisation’s B Corp certification process and its UK and European strategic business operations. 

She also has specialist knowledge in both grower focused and food manufacturing businesses, understanding the commercial opportunities as well as the financial challenges firms face in the sector. Prior to her role at Fancy Plants, Walton was managing director at fresh fruit suppliers British and Brazilian.

Her appointment forms a key part of MHA’s rapidly growing ESG and sustainability capabilities. The firm said her experience will enhance MHA’s ability to help companies develop a commercially viable sustainability strategy and to improve ESG standards.

She will be based in the Peterborough office but will lead projects all over the UK.

Walton said: “I joined the MHA ESG team to support businesses wishing to embark on a commercially viable ESG journey. There has never been a more critical need to manage both climate and commerce effectively. MHA’s ambition to be a trusted and commercially-minded adviser to its clients strongly appealed to me.”

Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, head of ESG at MHA, added: “Annie has a strong commercial background as she has worked within the food industry for many years, as a managing director at board level and as the former general manager for the UK and European operations at Fancy Plants. 

“She understands the regulatory and compliance hurdles companies face when creating a commercially successful and ethical brand and is one of the best people to help businesses on the path to sustainability.”