Produced in Kent Welcomes Three New Directors

Each brings heavyweight expertise, serious credibility, and a deep commitment to Kent’s food and drink sector. They also bring that rare combination of strategic clarity and sleeves-rolled-up pragmatism — exactly what a small but ambitious organisation like ours needs.

William Burton joins us with 38 years’ board-level experience across global FMCG and financial services. His track record speaks for itself: leading business transformations across seven countries, delivering multi-million-euro growth programmes, restructuring teams, creating new brands, and commercial lead in major mergers and integrations. These days William runs his own strategic advisory business, helping companies scale, govern well and grow sustainably. He also brings deep governance experience from charitable and education boards as chair, which is a huge asset as we expand our reach and impact.

Julie Maddocks brings more than 30 years of communications leadership spanning the BBC, Sky, ITN, the Freight Transport Association, Bedfordshire Police and Maidstone Borough Council, where she led the communications, marketing and events teams. She now runs her own comms company - Straight to the Point PR. She is, quite simply, a communications powerhouse - presenter, editor, crisis handler, storyteller, strategist - and one of the very few people who can make both local government and refuse-bin messaging sound interesting! Julie’s ability to shape narratives, build trust and engage audiences will be enormously valuable as we amplify the work of our producers and the profile of Kent’s food and drink sector.

Linda Garcia is a highly respected management consultant, productivity specialist with a career spanning ten countries and multiple industries. She has a formidable background in change management, strategy, leadership development and operational improvement, including global consulting roles, senior operational leadership and a decade leading her own consultancy here in Kent. Linda has deep experience in governance, charity leadership and mentoring young entrepreneurs. Her analytical rigour and people-centred approach will hugely strengthen our Board’s ability to support members in a fast-changing marketplace.

As many of you know, from 1 January 2026, Carol Ford will take over from me as Executive Chair of Produced in Kent. Carol is a dynamic, hugely knowledgeable leader in the sector, and I know she will bring fresh energy and ambition to the role.

I am enormously proud to welcome William, Julie and Linda to the Board. Produced in Kent now has one of the strongest, most experienced and most future-focused boards we have ever had. Together with our existing board, new Chair and the talents of Jo Gurr and Jill Sargent they will steer the organisation into an exciting next phase.

A stronger Board means a stronger future for Kent’s growers, makers and food innovators and I couldn’t wish for a better team to hand over to.