Biographies

Each member of Volac's Executive Team is passionate about fulfilling our purpose, achieving strategic ambitions and commercial goals across every part of the business.

  • David Neville

    Volac's Group CEO and Owner

    David joined in 1992 and after several commercial roles and completing an MBA at Ashridge, was for over 20 years the MD of the Animal Nutrition business developing market leadings positions for by-pass fats, silage additives and milk replacers.More recently David led Volac through a period of acquisitions and divestments to become the ruminant nutrition and additive business that continues today.

    David has a passion for the industry and extensive dairy knowledge, he believes in quality products and strong partnerships which are key to Volac's market position.

    David is also MD of our Feed Ingredient business and Chairman of the global joint venture, Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients, formed 10 years ago by Volac and Wilmar International Limited (Singapore).

  • Andrew Thompson

    MD, Volac Feed and Forage Additives

    Andrew studied Agriculture at Newcastle University, before completing an MBA at Bath University. Having worked for Promar International for 15 years as a consultant, the last 3 years managing the business. He has been involved with a diverse range of client work including working with individual farms to grow and support performance, to supply chain initiatives such as helping to establish the Tesco dairy cost of production initiative.

    Following a period working from Shanghai, helping to develop a strategic plan for Asia, for the last 12 years Andrew has led Genus's work in the bovine sector across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has led a team helping to bring together cutting-edge science with the wants and needs of dairy and beef producers across the region. With a relentless focus on customer and needs and delivering results for all, Andrew is passionate about driving on farm performance and sustainability, achieved by developing people and teams.

  • David Rattigan

    Interim Group CFO

    David joined Volac at the beginning of 2024 as the Whey Nutrition Chief Financial Officer. Following completion of the sale of Whey Nutrition to Arla Foods Ingredients David has been acting as the Interim Chief Financial Officer for Volac International Limited.

    David has had a long career in Finance, starting his career and qualifying with ICI Chemicals and Polymers, before joining United Biscuits (McVitie's, KP and Ross Youngs) where he spend many years in Supply Chain and Commercial finance decision support roles before going on to lead the United Biscuits Shared Service Centre. David subsequently became the Director of Financial Control for Premier Food PLC and Group Financial Controller for McBride PLC before becoming the Finance Director of McBride's Personal Care & Aerosol business though it's sale to Royal Sanders.

    Before joining Volac David acted as McBride PLC Chief Financial Officer before becoming the Chief Financial Officer at Nichols PLC, an international soft drinks business.

    David is married to Debbie and has 4 grown up sons. He is a long-standing season ticket holder at Liverpool Football Club.

  • Chris Richards

    Chairman, Volac International Limited

    Chris has served as Chairman of the Board since 2019

    Following a successful international career in the agriculture and related businesses, Chris has become a highly experienced non-executive director and business adviser. Chris is the former Chief Executive Officer of Arysta LifeScience, a Japan-based agrochemical business which grew rapidly under his leadership. After stepping down as CEO in 2010, he became Arysta LifeScience's Non-Executive Chairman until the sale of the business in 2015 to Platform Specialty Products.

    Chris currently holds a number of executive and non-executive Director of Origin Enterprises plc (AIM: OGN) and Chair of Beta Bugs Ltd, global leader in Black Soldier Fly genetics.