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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 14th September 2021
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VMD appoints new CEO
Pictured: Abigail Seager.
Experienced civil servant Abigail Seager will take over the role.

Yesterday (13 September) the VMD announced that it has appointed Abigail Seager as its new CEO.

Seager has previously held roles in the VMD including director of the authorisations, head of the EU exit and international office, and head of the general assessment and imports team. 

Seager's pre-VMD roles include deputy head of fisheries legislation for Defra, and roles within the Ministry of Justice. 

David Kennedy, Defra's general director for food, commented on the announcement in a government news release: "I’m very excited about this appointment.

“Abi is incredibly well placed to lead the organisation in the next phase. I look forward to working closely with Abi and VMD as they ensure veterinary medicines continue to be safe, together with growing their international business and leading our work on AMR.”

Abigail succeeds Professor Pete Borriello, who has held the post for 10 years. 

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.