Alan Laidlaw, Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector: biography
Published 26 September 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector Alan Laidlaw with Secretary of State Emma Reynolds
Alan Laidlaw is an experienced CEO, strategic leader, and respected voice in the UK’s rural, agricultural, and land management industries. With over 25 years’ experience across public, private, and charitable organisations, he is known for building strong partnerships, navigating complex landscapes, and delivering lasting value for communities, businesses, and the environment.
Alan spent more than a decade on the senior management team at The Crown Estate, where he was responsible for a 250,000 acre UK-wide rural portfolio, one of the country’s largest agricultural tenanted estates. He introduced innovative tenancy agreements and co-investment models that delivered sustainable revenue growth for both tenants and the landowner. He worked extensively with tenant farmers, industry bodies, community organisations, and both UK and devolved governments to shape practical, progressive tenancy arrangements. Alongside this, Alan led major projects in infrastructure, renewable energy, and land transition, ensuring outcomes that were fair, transparent, and future-focused.
Most recently, Alan served as Chief Executive of RHASS, a charity best known for delivering the Royal Highland Show. In this role, he represented the organisation nationally and internationally, strengthened its influence with government and industry, and reinforced its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community engagement.
Alan studied Rural Enterprise and Land Management at Harper Adams University, qualifying as a Chartered Rural Surveyor, and spent his early career in positions with the Bank of Scotland, NatWest, and Smiths Gore, developing expertise in rural finance, estate management, and strategic business development.
Alongside his executive career, Alan is a founding trustee of Farmstrong Scotland, a peer-to-peer-led wellbeing charity supporting farmers and crofters in Scotland. He has chaired farming and diversified property boards, mentored leaders across multiple sectors, served as a member of the National Council of Rural Advisors in Scotland, and is a former Director of the Oxford Farming Conference.