About us
The CPG mission
At CPG, our mission is to help develop a low-carbon, zero-waste, circular bioeconomy that nurtures people, plants and planet.
As leaders in regenerative agriculture innovation, we aim to consistently challenge the status quo within our sector.
The CPG vision
Global leaders in the sustainable cultivation of superior quality food crops
Our history
CPG was founded in 2019 by a team of farming experts and investors. With a proven track record of commercial success in eastern Europe and over 20 years’ experience in regenerative potato farming, we’re a trusted partner to some of eastern Europe’s biggest potato buyers.
We grow and produce the highest quality potato-based products in Ukraine with the goal of supplying these to the global market.
The investments we make in our people, equipment and technology allow us to move forward with confidence as a business built for the future.
Group directors
Mark Laird
25+ YEARS’ Industry Experience Founded Continental Farmers in 1994 in Poland developed a 12,000 Ha Polish operation
Diarmid Johnston
25+ YEARS’ Industry Experience
Dr Keith Dawson
35+ YEARS’ Industry Experience
Richard Janaway
40+ YEARS’ Industry Experience
Alastair Stewart
15+ YEARS’ Industry Experience
Oleg Drin
10+ YEARS’ Industry Experience
Vince Gillingham
20+ YEARS’ Industry Experience
Group leadership team
Yuri Pulgun
Experienced Executive Manager with 17+ years of experience in strategic planning, organizational development, and operations efficiency
Orest Tychko
An experienced executive manager with 10 years’ of successful delivery in Ukraine
Kostiantyn Seleznov
With over 15 years of experience in finance and business growth
Tanya Tkachuk
Over 16 years experience in Accounting and Tax compliance, including 9 years in international companies
Oleh Lutsyk
A career spanning 15 years’ focused on Procurement and Commercial
Ira Savka
Over 15 years of experience in Agricultural international companies managing Foreign Relations & Communications, HR & operations efficiency Training programmes; Infrastructure development projects
Andy J M Bianco
Over 30 years professional experience in various senior business positions and Industries
The values that drive us
Honesty
Integrity
Respect
Circularity
Transparency
Mark Laird
25+ YEARS’ Industry Experience Founded Continental Farmers in 1994 in Poland developed a 12,000 Ha Polish operation.
Co-founded Ukrainian operations in 2006.
CEO of Continental Farmers from inception to 2019.
BSc (Hons) in Agribusiness from Buckingham University and a Graduate of Royal Agricultural College – Cirencester.
Spearheaded the IPO listing and subsequent trade sale to a Saudi consortium.
Also has farming interests in Poland and Scotland.
Fluent in Polish.
Diarmid Johnston
25+ YEARS’ Industry Experience.
Joined Continental Farmers as COO in 1998 after farming in UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Lived in Eastern Europe for the last 20 years, specialising in seed potato production.
He also a founder of Agrico Poland, a subsidiary of the global seed breeder and potato trader.
HND in Agriculture from SAC College.
Fluent in Polish and Ukrainian.
Dr Keith Dawson
35+ YEARS’ Industry Experience.
Globally recognised crop, renewable energy and environmental specialist.
Formerly principal crop consultant at Scottish Agricultural College and Director of the James Hutton Institute.
Current Chair of Scottish Society of Crop Research.
Involved in eastern European farming operations since 1984.
Significant advisory roles including Shell, BASF.
Co- founded Continental Farmers Ukraine in 2006.
Richard Janaway
40+ YEARS’ Industry Experience.
Extensive farming experience in processing and agricultural supplies as well as direct farming expertise.
Specialist potato grower and one of the largest suppliers of crisping potatoes to Walkers in the UK.
Chairman of Saltire and Shire Growers – potato co-operatives.
Alastair Stewart
15+ YEARS’ Industry Experience.
Chartered Accountant with 12 yrs of food and drink experience in international companies (Allied Domecq, Constellation Brands, Baxters Food Group) in UK, Australasia, USA and Europe.
CFO experienced in corporate governance, M&A and international tax planning.
Managed IPO and acquisitions within Continental Farmers.
Oleg Drin
10+ YEARS’ Industry Experience.
Board representative for K Hartwall Invest, key Finnish investor in CPG.
MBA London, PhD Economics Kiev, Law and Mathematics Degree, Chernivtsi University.
Experienced Corporate Finance and Investment Advisor as well as industry (Pepsico, Carlsberg).
Ukrainian national fluent in Russian, Polish and English.
Vince Gillingham
20+ YEARS’ Industry Experience.
Founding Director and Chairman of Agri-Epi Centre, UK, which pioneers agricultural engineering, precision and innovation for UK farming.
Founder of well-known precision farming and digital farming brands in the UK, Europe and Africa.
Collaborator on a number of AgriTech projects with organisations including Innovate UK and the European Space Agency.
Continued passion for advancing agricultural research and innovation within the AgriTech sector.
A skillset that bridges the gap between academic and commercial ventures.
Yuri Pulgun
Experienced Executive Manager with 17+ years of experience in strategic planning, organizational development, and operations efficiency. Specializes in procurement, supply chain management, sales, production, internal control, and crisis management, with a focus on re-engineering of business processes.
Notable achievements:
- Development and establishment of a modern potato starch plant, achieving high-standard production based on global food safety standards (FSSC) and expanding market reach for new product – potato starch.
- Building operational models for big scale farming business in supply chain management, ensuring on-time deliveries, internal control, and cost optimization.
- Collaborating with international grant programs, including USAID and LIFE programmes.
Orest Tychko
An experienced executive manager with 10 years’ of successful delivery in Ukraine. Analytical and results-oriented in managing day-to-day operations, with a focus on leading the team to improve financial, productivity, safety and quality outputs in the farming business. Proven track record of implementing operational principles and driving continuous advanced initiatives to achieve business goals. Firm standpoint: You are as good as the Team around you.
A leading figure in Ukraine with years of implementing modern production methods alongside regenerative techniques to protect the natural world.
Cooperation with international grant programs, including USAID program.
Kostiantyn Seleznov
With over 15 years of experience in finance and business growth, Kostiantyn has worked with international companies including PWC, McDonalds, TMF, Continental Farmers Group.
Kostiantyn has a bachelor’s degree in engineering, master’s degree in economics, fellowship in Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK.
Tanya Tkachuk
Over 16 years experience in Accounting and Tax compliance, including 9 years in international companies. Tanya has worked extensively with the ‘Big 4’ covering tax, accounting and audit services.
Since joining CPG, Tanya has implemented effective solutions for the accounting department, which has seen improvements in business processes and internal controls.
Tanya also has experience with ERP implementation for accounting (SAP, Microsoft Navision etc.)
Oleh Lutsyk
A career spanning 15 years’ focused on Procurement and Commercial. This experience includes 8 years of agricultural industry experience.
Before working in agriculture, Oleh was Head of Procurement and Commercial for companies in the manufacturing and automotive space. Oleh has a keen focus on developing and implementing modern systems to improve the tender, contracting and supply chain process.
At CPG Oleh has significantly developed and improved sales, export scale and overall customer service.
Native Ukrainian, fluent English speaker.
Ira Savka
Over 15 years of experience in Agricultural international companies managing Foreign Relations & Communications, HR & operations efficiency Training programmes; Infrastructure development projects.
Since joining CPG Group in 2019, Ira has developed the group’s corporate relations, customs operations, infrastructure projects and EGP projects. Ira played a key role in organizing and coordinating the Pickups for Peace initiative in Ukraine, distributing over $1.5m worth of aid to those impacted by the Russian invasion.
Andy J M Bianco
Over 30 years professional experience in various senior business positions and Industries.
Extensive experience in the oil and gas services and oilfield supplies industries, covering roles as Commercial Director, Technical Manager to Country Director. A skill Sets that extends from executive functions into designing site safety systems.
A proven track record of supporting local teams on their journey to success, more recently with CPG, focussing on delivering its unique vertically integrated approach and refining the biopolymer technology layer for the emerging bioplastics and bioadhesives markets.
