The Holker Group has strengthened its board with the appointment of Heather Hancock as non-executive chairman to work alongside Lucy Cavendish for the next three years.

The Holker Group includes Holker Hall and Gardens, in Cark, near Grange-over-Sands; Cartmel Racecourse, Burlington Stone and the farming and property interests of the Holker Estate.

Mrs Hancock said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to work with Lucy Cavendish on her ambitions for Holker and its enterprises, built around incredibly strong family and stewardship values.

“I am a huge believer in the potential in the rural economy. Holker’s family-owned, professionally run group of businesses have such a positive impact on rural employment and prospects, and in the life of the community,” she added.

Mrs Hancock, who lives in the Yorkshire Dales, is chairman of the Food Standards Agency, a non-executive director of Rural Solutions Ltd, and a former managing partner of Deloitte in the UK and Switzerland.

She will also chair Holker’s trustees.

Lucy Cavendish has directed the growth of the Holker Group since 2014, when she took over its leadership from her father, Lord Cavendish of Furness.

Since then she has continued its ongoing ethos of conscientious community investment while also prioritising long term sustainability.

Ms Cavendish welcomed Mrs Hancock to the role.

She said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Heather as chairman of the board, particularly as this is such an exciting time for the Holker Group and its business portfolio.

“Heather has a wealth of external experience. We are operating in an ever-changing economic environment and this appointment will add strength to the team, as well as allowing me to focus on the overall strategic and creative direction for our range of successful businesses.”