Steve Harper is leaving his role as managing director of Vital Earth after five years in the post.

He joined in 2007 to create, launch and establish the new brand and expand the company’s production capabilities.

Vital Earth became the first peat-free compost to outperform peat-based compost in trials by Gardening Which? in 2010. It subsequently it gained significant market share and a string of awards for products like RSPB No Peat MultiPurpose, Chicken Poo fertiliser and the Vital Earth commercial grower range. Earlier this year, Steve handed the responsibility for growing Vital Earth sales to Bord Na Móna in a distribution agreement for the UK.

On the operational side, Steve consolidated the Vital Earth GB Limited and its patented green waste compost process onto one £12 million state of the art site at Ashbourne, Derbyshire and then expanded production.  The Ashbourne plant is now the UK's largest compost site and Viotal Earth GB is recognised as a leader in green waste composting.

Steve said the company was in good shape for the future. “Therefore, the time is right to leave,” he said. “I am looking forward to a new challenge and to making an equally positive impact with another business.”

* STOP PRESS: GTN has learned that, in an urelated move, Maryanne Stokes, Vital Earth’s sales and marketing manager, is also leaving ther company.