Former MHK Bill Shimmins has been directly appointed to the board of Isle of Man Meats as a non-executive director.
Mr Shimmins didn’t have to go through an open recruitment, as “direct appointments can also be made where circumstances make this appropriate”.
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture said: “The role was not advertised publicly, as DEFA, in consultation with Treasury, identified a suitable candidate.”
There is no defined statutory process for appointing non-executive directors to the Board of Isle of Man Meats.
DEFA’s preference is to conduct open recruitment, as has been done in the past, but direct appointments can also be made where circumstances make this appropriate.
The Department told Manx.News: “Some Board positions have been filled through open recruitment, while others, including Mr Shimmins’, have been direct appointments.
“The shareholders of Isle of Man Meats oversee these processes.”
The shareholders of Isle of Man Meats is the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, along with the Isle of Man Fat Stock Marketing Association Ltd (FMA).
Although it is a shareholder, FMA has a non voting share.
Responsibility of the Meat Plant was meant to be transferred from DEFA to Treasury in 2021, but this has yet not happened.
Mr Shimmins was also the former boss of the Chief Executive Officer of the DEFA, Tim Cowsill.
He was Managing Director at Isle of Man Bank Limited and Island Director at RBS International from May 2011 to July 2016.
Tim Cowsill, CEO of DEFA, worked at RBS International from September 2011 to June 2018.
In a statement to Manx.News, a DEFA spokesperson said: “Producers were notified last month, via the Fatstock Marketing Association (FMA) and Manx National Farmers Union (MNFU), that Mr Bill Shimmins has agreed to join the Board of Isle of Man Meats with immediate effect.
“Both shared this information with their members, noting that his appointment is intended to further strengthen the Board, particularly in the areas of governance and finance.”
n response to a written question last month, DEFA Minister Clare Barber MHK said there is “no defined process” in the appointment process for non-executive Directors to the Board of Isle of Man Meats.
She said: “Our preference would be to have an open recruitment process, as has taken place in the past, however circumstances can and have been presented where it has been necessary to make direct appointments.”
The Minister added: “I am mindful that the current Board membership were recruited as an ‘emergency’ Board, and as such were not appointed through an open recruitment process.
“It is intended that in April 2026 a full recruitment process will take place for a longer term, established board.”
Although there is “no defined statutory process for appointing non-executive directors to the Board of Isle of Man Meats”, others on the board went through the normal and transparent procedures to be on the board.
In April 2024, IOM Meats was looking for ‘suitable candidates’ to become non-executive directors on the board.
Following this recruitment drive, the following people were made non-executive directors:
- Rob Teare: A Manx butcher with substantial red meat experience.
- Dr Jonathan Birnie: An agricultural economist and the principal author of a comprehensive report on the abattoir.
- Philip Birnie: An experienced red meat businessman with expertise in abattoir and meat processing operations.
- Andrew McKeown: A Manx farmer and haulier who has industry experience in the abattoir sector, particularly procurement.
And Damien Corcoran (Chair) was made chair of the board of Isle of Man Meats.
Source: Manx News, 5 December 2025
