Josep Jove Estiarte has been named the interim CEO of Bloom Fresh International, following the departure of Kenneth Avery, who was in the post for six months. Estiarte previously was the group chief innovation officer.
The Department of Pesticide Regulation has brought on Michael Millican to be the Sustainable Pest Management assistant director and special adviser. Millican previously served as the IPM program administrator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Chris Hooks has been hired to be the new chief merchandising and marketing officer at Save Mart Cos. He most recently was the executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Save A Lot. He has also held executive positions at Family Dollar and Topco Associates.
The Western Plant Health Association has brought on Jill Miller as the new director of programs. She will also be expanding opportunities for the California Fertilizer Foundation to increase visibility and membership opportunities. Bringing over 20 years of experience to the role, she previously worked for Rabobank as a marketing specialist promoting local and statewide programs.
Matt Minthorn, Allen Lund Co.Matt Minthorn has been elevated to senior director of carrier development at the Allen Lund Co., based in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif. Minthorn previously was the general manager of ALC Phoenix.
Basil Gooden has been confirmed by the Senate to be USDA’s next undersecretary for rural development. Gooden is a former state agriculture secretary and was USDA's Rural Development director in Virginia since 2021. Gooden’s nomination was cleared by voice vote following the Senate’s return to session after a two-week hiatus.
Summer Mersinger was also confirmed by voice vote in the Senate for another term as a commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Her time at CFTC is now set to expire April 13, 2028.
President Joe Biden has announced his intent to appoint National Farmers Union President Rob Larew to serve on the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. On this committee, Larew will help provide policy advice to the U.S. Trade Representative on matters related to the development, implementation, and administration of trade policy in the U.S. The president also intends to appoint eight others on the committee.
Alltech has moved Colm Moran into the new role of chief regulatory officer. He has been with the company for more than 20 years and most recently was the director of European regulatory affairs. He also served as chairman of Alltech’s crisis management team.
Sean Arians has joined the National Corn Growers Association as its new vice president of sustainable production. Bringing 20 years of ag experience to the role, Arians previously worked at Advanced Agrilytics, Bayer, The Climate Corporation and Precision Planting.
It’s easy to be “in the know” about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news! Simply click here.
Elizabeth Fusick, American Sugar AllianceKaren Batra has been promoted to deputy vice president of public affairs at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. She previously was the managing director of communications.
Elizabeth Fusick has returned to the American Sugar Alliance as the director of communications. Fusick previously worked for ASA as a communications consultant.
Malin Westfall has joined The Mosaic Company as a sales director. He previously worked for ADAMA US as the head of commercial. He also spent time earlier in his career for BASF.
Pat O’Toole, farmer and longtime president of the Family Farm Alliance, died at the age of 75 after suffering a stroke. O’Toole and his wife, Sharon, owned and managed Wyoming’s Ladder Ranch. He was a strong believer that conservation and agriculture are mutually beneficial and was selected to serve on the Clinton administration’s Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission, the only commissioner representing Western irrigated agriculture. O'Toole also served in the Wyoming House of Representatives and was a member of the Family Farm Alliance’s board of directors beginning in 1998. In 2005, he was named as the organization’s fifth president.
For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com.
