Following two years as chairman of the AEA’s farm equipment council, Shaun Groom has been elected president of the Peterborough-based organisation.
Having spent nearly three decades in the agricultural machinery business, Shaun has held positions in both retail and wholesale agricultural machinery operations in the UK, Europe and New Zealand. After 15 years with Pöttinger, in January 2021 Shaun joined telescopic handler manufacturer Merlo as the general manager of its UK subsidiary.
Upon taking up his tenure as AEA president, Shaun offers his thoughts as to why membership of the organisation has never been more beneficial than it is right now in these challenging times.
“Whether it be dealing with new import or export regulations in a post Brexit transition marketplace or understanding what implications Covid restrictions mean for our industry, the AEA has the expert staff and knowledge in place to support a members business,” he comments.
“In the not so distant future new technical challenges await manufacturers as the pressure to replace fossil fuels with greener alternatives and stiff carbon net zero targets find their way to the sectors our members operate in. As equipment manufacturers harness alternative forms of power, the drafting of new regulations and standards will be required to ensure safety and compliance.
“Working to ensure that future regulations are both workable and valid for the industry and the environment, is a critical role the AEA fulfils. As we all adapt to a digital world the AEA has invested in staff and resources to keep the association at the forefront of those changes.”
