Farm Hands on the Potomac: Syngenta and BIO make leadership changes

World Trade Organization director-general Roberto Azevêdo is stepping down from the helm, effective Aug. 31. He is leaving the position one year early, but has served seven years as the director-general. 

The American Egg Board named Emily Metz, former chief of staff at the National Milk Producers Federation, as the new president and CEO, taking over at the helm beginning in June. She most recently worked for the U.K.-based Genus Plc, as the head of global research and development communications and new product marketing. To read more on Metz’s career, click here.

Tim Hammerich has joined Cogent Consulting and Communications as senior director of strategic communications. Hammerich is the founder of AgGrad, a career development resource for agricultural professionals. According to Hammerich, he is no longer offering recruitment services and has shifted his attention to content creation and consulting full time.

The National Restaurant Association has hired Tom Bené as its next president and chief executive. He succeeds Dawn Sweeney who announced last year she would step down from the position after leading the association for over 10 years. Bené previously was the president and chief executive of Sysco.

The American Feed Industry Association’s board of directors has elected Scott Druker, of Church & Dwight Company, as the 2020-21 chair. He succeeds Tim Belstra of Belstra Milling Co., who served as the chair during the 2019-20 AFIA fiscal year. Mike Schuster of Laidig Systems was elected to become chair-elect of the organization. Schuster will succeed Druker in May 2021. The board also approved seven nominated individuals as additions to AFIA’s Executive Committee: Mike Gauss of Kent Nutrition Group; Carlos Gonzalez, Ph.D., of Hill’s Pet Nutrition; Mike Van Koevering, Ph.D., of Elanco Animal Health; Mark Lueking of Cargill Animal Nutrition; Eric McMillan of Cactus Feeders; Lon Stephens of Co-operative Feed Dealers; Dean Warras of Phibro Animal Health Corporation; and Mindy Whittle of Bayer U.S.-Crop Science. 

Phil Karsting has joined Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC (OFW Law) as a senior policy adviser for the agriculture policy team. He most recently served as the vice president for public policy at the World Food Program, USA. He has also served as the administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service at USDA. He worked on Capitol Hill and served as the chief of staff to Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

Jessica Robinson has joined HLK's strategic communications team to help work on the portfolios for Channel, Bayer's Regional Brands and the Environmental Science unit of Bayer. Robinson has built strategy and managed tactical teams in industry, government and associations, both as in-house leadership and an expert consultant. HLK is a creative and technology agency focused on understanding and changing behavior through deeply integrated brand experiences born out of customer insight.

Matt Swenson has been hired as the new director of CEO communications for Cargill. He previously was the senior specialist for Cargill’s executive communications team. In his career, he has also managed communications for Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton.

Britt Aasmundstad has joined the Land O’Lakes team as the new manager of government and industry relations. Aasmundstad previously worked for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture as an associate director of public policy.

Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., has brought on Kelly Marie Fay Rodríguez to the Trade Subcommittee staff to help work on the implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Fay Rodríguez previously served as the Bangladesh deputy country program director for the Solidarity Center, after working as a program officer supporting the Solidarity Center’s efforts to monitor labor conditions, trade union organizing, and labor-related issues in Mexico and the countries of the South Andes.

Philipp Clarke has been promoted to legislative director for Rep. Tom Rice, R-S.C., covering the portfolio for international affairs, labor and employment, science and technology, small business, and telecommunications. He previously was a legislative assistant.

Matt McMurray is now the legislative director for Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill. He covers the portfolio for international affairs, telecommunications, transportation and public works. He previously was the senior legislative assistant.

Kyle Jacobs has added the title of legislative director for Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn. He is also the press secretary. He covers the portfolio for appropriations, energy, environmental protection, public lands and natural resources, and small business.

Angela Brown now serves as the senior legislative assistant to Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla. She covers animal welfare, energy, environmental protection, public lands and natural resources, and transportation and public works issues. She was previously a legislative assistant.

UPL has promoted Brian Ahrens to head of U.S. ag sales. He previously was the lead for the professional products team. Ahrens succeeds Brian Cardin, who requested to step aside from his position after nearly 10 years of leading the U.S. sales team. Cardin now leads the key account manager team.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Iowa named Paige Frautschy agriculture program director. Frautschy is a certified crop adviser and leads the 4R Plus program, which was launched in 2018 to provide education and tools to farmers, agronomists, and CCAs to improve soil health and protect Iowa’s natural resources. Frautschy previously worked as the agriculture strategies manager for TNC Wisconsin.

Delaney Howell has joined Trader PhD as the new director of marketing and media engagement. Howell previously hosted Iowa Public Broadcasting's Market to Market program. She is also a host on the Ag News Daily Podcast.

For more news, go to www.agri-pulse.com.