Allan Burns has been appointed chairman of Scotland Food & Drink.
Scotland Food & Drink will be industry led and will bring together the many different agencies and industry groups operating in the food and drink sector.
Burns will be responsible for ensuring Scotland's food and drink industry strategy continues to deliver.
Burns was previously executive director of Diageo Scotland.
Richard Lochhead, cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment in the Scottish Executive, said: "Allan Burns has a wealth of experience and an outstanding track record in this area, particularly with Diageo. I am confident that under his stewardship Scotland Food & Drink will fulfil the ambitions that I and the industry have for it."
Burns said: "This is a tremendously exciting time to be involved in this growth industry and I fully embrace the challenges presented by this new role."
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