THE society which registers and safeguards some of the best-loved horse breeds in Wales has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer and Chair.

The Welsh Pony and Cob Society, based in Bronaeron near Lampeter, has appointed Rob Allen as its new CEO and John Kirk as its Chair. The society encourages the breeding and improvement of horses and ponies, particularly the Welsh breeds. It oversees registrations, licences, transfers, and exports.

Mr Allen, from Aberaeron, Ceredigion, is experienced in management in the charity sector. He held various roles during 11 years at a regional substance misuse agency helping those dealing with drink or drug problems and people battling eating disorders. Mr Allen also worked at a charity supporting tenants and developing a project to help those with eating disorders, as a project manager for a horticultural charity, as a marketing manager and theatre manager, and between 2007 and 2001 he was Chair of Drug and Alcohol Charities Wales.

Mr Allen, 49, said: “I am delighted to be appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society. I look forward to meeting the members over the coming weeks and months and supporting the Council in encouraging the breeding, improvement and promotion of the Welsh breeds across the United Kingdom and beyond.”

New Chair Mr Kirk has been a member of the WPCS for 40 years. He has previously been Vice Chair on three different occasions.

“It is an honour to be the new Chair of the WPCS, following in the footsteps of the late Tom Hughes, and continuing with the good work that Tom did for the society. I am also pleased to welcome Rob Allen as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Society,” he said.

The appointments follow a major restructure of the organisation facilitated by Emma Eccles of Effective HRM, the company which oversees the society’s human resource management. The restructure will modernise the society and make it more efficient. Effective HRM had a key role in the search for and selection of the society’s new CEO.