Warburton becomes chair of family business institute

The Institute for Family Business (IFB) has named Ross Warburton of Bolton-based bakery Warburtons has its new chairman. 

Ross is one of three members of the fifth-generation of the Warburton family who have been running the business since 1991. He is currently executive chairman of the firm and outgoing president of the Food and Drink Federation. In 2004, he received an MBE for his services to the food industry and he takes over the IFB chairman’s post from Andrew Wates of Surrey-based construction firm Wates Group, who has held it for the past three years.

“I’m delighted to take up this appointment,” said Warburton. “Family firms are the backbone of the UK economy and a source of business stability at a time of economic uncertainty with their guiding principles of stewardship and entrepreneurship.

“The IFB has expanded its membership rapidly in recent years and I look forward to helping to make sure the voice of family business is heard as widely as possible among policy makers and opinion formers.”

IFB director-general, Grant Gordon, said: “It’s great to have Ross Warburton as leader of the UK’s family business association. He has worked within a successful UK family firm which is a household name and understands the vital contribution that family businesses make to the economy – 65% of all private sector enterprises.

“I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous contribution of the outgoing IFB chairman Andrew Wates.”