RON McHattie, chief executive of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society for 18 years, is retiring on health grounds.

He said: "Overseeing the breed during its resurgence as a leading beef breed and the development of branded Aberdeen-Angus beef ranges in a number of leading retailers has been a hugely exciting career.

"The growth of both the Society and the Aberdeen-Angus brand in the time I’ve been involved with the breed is testament to the hard work of breeders in producing cattle to suit the modern market and to the foresight shown by the Society’s council in working with leading processors and retailers to develop markets."

Among a number of ground breaking initiatives he has implemented, the most notable was the establishment and growth of Pedigree Cattle Services as a leading provider in the field of performance recording to UK beef breed societies.

Mr McHattie said the rapid uptake of the ABRI Breedplan system by a wide number of societies had been a resolute backing for the vision the Aberdeen-Angus Society had shown when first bringing the system to the UK.

The Society is now the second largest beef breed Society in the UK and has extensive links with leading processors and retailers – the envy of many other beef breeds.

"I am sorry to be leaving the role and could not have achieved everything I have without the support of a loyal and dependable office staff and the backing of a succession of Society presidents and council members," said Mr McHattie.

The position of Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society chief executive is now being advertised.