De Lacy Host Inaugural Leaders' Lunch

 The Leaders’ Lunch Club was the brainchild of Grace Nugent, who was appointed Managing Director at De Lacy Executive a year ago, and Chris Manley, who recently launched his own venture, Traction.

Both had felt the weight of leadership first-hand—the loneliness that can come with senior roles, the challenge of imposter syndrome, and the burden of making difficult decisions that affect people’s livelihoods. Recognising the need for a space where leaders could connect, share experiences, and speak openly, they created the Leaders’ Lunch, hosted on 3rd April in Worcester, at the Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

The Leaders’ Lunch Club was the brainchild of Grace Nugent, who was appointed Managing Director at De Lacy Executive a year ago, and Chris Manley, who recently launched his own venture, Traction. Both had felt the weight of leadership first-hand—the loneliness that can come with senior roles, the challenge of imposter syndrome, and the burden of making difficult decisions that affect people’s livelihoods. Recognising the need for a space where leaders could connect, share experiences, and speak openly, they created the Leaders’ Lunch, hosted on 3rd April in Worcester, at the Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

Who Attended

The Leaders’ Lunch brought together a carefully selected group of senior professionals from across agriculture and the food supply chain. Attendees included individuals from poultry, beef, dairy, arable farming, agri-tech, meat processing, feed, and even a leading fast food restaurant.

Job titles reflected the depth and experience in the room—ranging from Commercial Managers and Directors to Heads of Sustainability, Directors of Agriculture, and Managing Directors.

The organisers were deliberate in selecting people who represented a broad cross-section of the industry, aiming to bring valuable insight and perspective to the conversation. This event sought to break the traditional silos in agriculture, where people typically stick to sector-specific events. By inviting one representative from each sector, the event fostered conversations that crossed traditional boundaries, allowing a richness of experience to shine through. The goal was to create space for influential leaders to share openly, learn from each other, and discuss common challenges facing the industry today.

"I’m so proud our idea became reality and exceeded expectations. Remember—you’re not alone. Be yourself, and it’s okay to lead with vulnerability."

Grace Nugent, Managing Director at De Lacy Executive Recruitment

 

“I'm delighted with the success of our inaugural Leadership Lunch Club—amazing collaboration, vibrant discussion, and huge potential to drive positive, collaborative change across the sector.”

Chris Manley, Founder & Director, Traction Management Consultancy

Key Themes and Discussion Points 

Although informal in structure, the event uncovered significant and consistent themes across the group, with discussions expertly facilitated by Richard Ferguson of Kili Consulting.

One major topic was the personal experience of leadership. Several attendees spoke about the isolation at the top, particularly when managing large teams or multiple business units. Many shared experiences of imposter syndrome, especially when transitioning rapidly into senior roles without formal leadership training.

A key theme was team management and leadership. Leaders discussed the need for personalised and individualised management approaches, emphasising the importance of investing time in understanding teams to improve performance and retention. Many acknowledged feeling stretched between operational responsibilities, strategic planning, and leadership, wanting to excel in all areas but lacking the time and resources to do so.

External pressures were also discussed, with government policy featuring heavily. Concerns were raised about the impact of recent regulations and the lack of long-term clarity, which were creating additional uncertainty for farmers. One attendee highlighted the challenges of planning in an environment where the political landscape keeps shifting.

Retail pressures were another common concern. Attendees voiced frustration about how tight margins are further squeezed by retailers and how little financial reward there is for primary producers, despite increasing demands for higher standards, traceability, and environmental performance.

Sustainability was a central theme. While the group agreed on the importance of transitioning to more sustainable practices, there was a shared sense that achieving this balance requires significant investment and a focus on both commercial survival and long-term environmental goals.

Finally, recruitment and talent retention came into focus. Leaders expressed concern about attracting and retaining good people across the sector, not just on farms but in agri-tech, R&D, commercial roles, and operational teams. Many agreed that there is an urgent need to change young people's perceptions of the industry and provide clearer career pathways in agriculture.

Reflections and Outcomes

The event was well received, with many attendees commenting on how rare it is to have a space like this—small, informal, yet focused—where real conversations can happen without a set agenda or commercial pressure.

Attendees appreciated the opportunity to connect with leaders from different areas of the industry, share openly about their challenges, and walk away with both new insights and new contacts.

Several participants followed up to express how energising and valuable the discussions were. It became clear that, despite the sector’s diversity, the challenges faced were shared, and there is immense power in collaborating across traditional divides to reflect and move forward together.

What’s Next

Given the overwhelmingly positive response, plans are already in motion for the next Leaders’ Lunch. The goal is to build on the foundations of this first meeting, introduce new voices, and continue creating space for meaningful leadership dialogue within the agricultural and food supply chain.

The organisers are also exploring ways to expand the concept to enable more leaders to benefit from this kind of engagement.

Thank You

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who attended and contributed so openly to the conversation. Their willingness to share experiences, challenge assumptions, and support each other made the event a success.

The organisers look forward to continuing the conversation and to seeing what can be achieved, together.