American Feed Industry Association, US Grains Council name new CEOs

03-May-2019 - Last updated on 03-May-2019 at 07:26 GMT

Both the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the US Grains Council announced new heads of their organizations on Thursday [May 2].

AFIA is set to see Constance Cullman take the reigns of the association as the next president and CEO along with being the president of the AFIA’s public charity – the Institute for Feed Education and Research. She will be joining the AFIA in July.

The US Grains Council also is set to see new leadership with Ryan LeGrand stepping into the role of the organization’s president and CEO. He is set to start the position in mid-June.

Cullman to lead AFIA

Cullman will be the association’s eighth president and CEO and its first ever female CEO.

The feed industry association announced in December that Joel Newman, current CEO and president, would be retiring.

The selection committee involved in the CEO search process sought someone who would act as a “visionary leader,” had solid communication skills, the demonstrated ability to bring together members across an organization and industry along with being able to lead on important issues, said Bruch Crutcher, board chairman with AFIA.

“As the US animal food industry looks to create market opportunities in the global trade environment and better communicate with consumers about the industry’s sustainability efforts, we believe Cullman’s experience and foresight will serve our members well by opening new doors for dialogue about the issues impacting US animal food manufacturers’ license to operate,” he added.

Currently, Cullman serves as the president and CEO of Farm Foundation. Previously, she worked with Dow AgroSciences, the Corn Refiners Association, the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and served as an extension associate at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Grains Council taps LeGrand to lead

Currently, the Grains Council director in Mexico, LeGrand will take over the role of president and CEO of the UGC from Tom Sleight who announced earlier this year that he would be retiring.

LeGrand was chosen due to his “steadfast and level-headed leadership” during a period when US agricultural trade faces global challenges, said Jim Stitzlein, USGC chairman.

“Ryan has shown dedication to measured growth for US grains and co-products in Mexico, our most important export market and neighbor,” Stitzlein said in a release.

LeGrand started his position as director of the office in Mexico City in 2016. During his tenure, he worked to improve relationships between the feed and livestock industries in the US and Mexico through the trade negotiation process, the council said. He also developed a market for ethanol and helped grow demand for US DDGS, sorghum and barley.

Previously, he worked for Gavilon, acting as the director of ingredients in Mexico and managing the import, distribution and trade of feed ingredients.