Amlan International Names Heath Wessels as Director of Sales for North America
Amlan International, the animal health business of Oil-Dri Corporation of America and maker of natural feed additives that aim to improve the intestinal health and efficiency of poultry and livestock, has named Heath Wessels the Director of Sales for North America, according to a company release. The newly created role affirms Amlan’s commitment to improving the quality of the global food supply by leveraging its proprietary mineral technology. Wessels will work to build Amlan’s business presence in the United States and Canada and develop a strategy that ensures long-term customer value and profitability, the release states.
“Amlan is investing to further build a talented team of industry professionals to offer our extensively researched mineral-based feed additives to producers in key markets, including the United States,” says Dan Jaffee, president and CEO, Oil-Dri Corporation of America and president and general manager of Amlan, in the release. “We’re excited to see momentum building for natural products in poultry and livestock production. Heath shares Amlan’s vision for partnering with producers to help them maximize their production profitability while satisfying consumer demands for high-quality animal protein. Heath’s incredible experience in the U.S. market will help Amlan spread the word that our mineral-based feed additives offer great value to protein production.”
Wessels has more than 20 years of sales and marketing expertise, building strategic relationships and driving sales in the animal protein business. Most recently, he led the North American sales and technical service team at a pedigree broiler breeding company. In that role he brought new products to market, developed strategies for key accounts and managed yearly financials. During his time there, Wessels built key relationships with customers and facilitated market share growth in North America, the release says.
Aimpoint Research Adds New Talent to Growing Team
Aimpoint Research, a global, strategic intelligence firm, has added Tommy Batts, Jack Lumpe, Eric Williams and Payton Woods to its growing team of intelligence analysts, researchers and business professionals, according to a company release.
“We are thrilled to bring Tommy, Jack, Eric and Payton onto our team,” said Brett Sciotto, Aimpoint Research president & CEO, in the release. “Their tremendous talent and expertise will further enhance our research, intelligence-gathering and analysis for clients across the agri-food value chain.”
Tommy Batts is an Aimpoint Research as a research analyst and will play a key role in the design, implementation and reporting of both quantitative and qualitative research. He holds a Bachelor of Science in communication and business from Hope College and a Master of Science in marketing research from Michigan State University. Prior to pursuing his graduate degree, he worked in fundraising, recruiting, analytics and communication in the non-profit sector.
As operational excellence coordinator, Jack Lumpe will work with senior leaders to maintain and further advance organizational culture and practices, as well as provide a curated customer and employee experience, the release says. He is a former Aimpoint Research intern, giving him experience in market research, intelligence-gathering and business operations. He graduated from Gannon University in Pennsylvania where he majored in advertising communications with a double minor in marketing and business administration.
Eric Williams is an Agri-Food WatchDesk analyst for the company and will work to provide clients with ongoing actionable intelligence, the release says. Williams is an experienced business intelligence analyst with expertise in commercial real estate, the oil and gas industry, steel manufacturing, and non-profit organizations. His most recent position was as a contractor for American Electric Power leading a cross-functional team with internal and external clients. Williams is a graduate of Texas Tech University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in economics. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University, as well as a certification in information technology project management.
Payton Woods joins Aimpoint Research’s market research team as a research analyst providing critical qualitative and quantitative information and insights to clients across the agri-food value chain, the release says. He is a graduate of Michigan State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in marketing and Master of Science in market research.
Mark Holmen Joins BioZyme Inc. Team
Mark Holmen, of Lanesboro, Minnesota, has joined the sales force at BioZyme Inc., as an area sales manager. In his new role, he will represent BioZyme working with dealers, potential dealers and end-users in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to a company release.
Holmen has an extensive background in the livestock industry. He was the fifth generation raised on his family’s farm and is currently raising the sixth generation, where they raise Angus and Red Angus cattle and show pig prospects. For the last six years he has worked in the beef genetics business. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota – Saint Paul and was a member of its livestock judging team, the release says.
“Mark brings a positive attitude and a strong work ethic to this position, as well as a diverse understanding of the beef and dairy businesses. These traits combined with his eagerness to help all producers and dealers succeed will make him a tremendous asset to BioZyme in Wisconsin and Minnesota,” says Mike Wadle, BioZyme director of national sales, in the release.
As an area sales manager, Holmen will continue to offer dealer support and grow business within his territory through education and promotion of the BioZyme product lines. He will help conduct meetings and represent the company at trade shows while helping end-users meet their goals.
“It doesn’t matter how good producers’ genetics are, if their nutrition is lacking, they are going to have challenges. I’m looking forward to using my diverse background in production, reproduction and nutrition to help them identify different problems on their farms and help them find success in their programs,” Holmen says in the release.
Smithfield Foods’ President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Organ Appoints New Executive Leadership Team
Smithfield Foods, Inc. has announced new executive leadership appointments following Dennis Organ’s recent assumption of the president and chief executive officer role, according to a company release.
“These key leaders represent decades of collective company and industry expertise. It is a testament to our depth and strength at Smithfield that such talented individuals are within our ranks,” Mr. Organ says in the release. “Building on our guiding principles of Responsibility, Operational Excellence and Innovation, this team will carry our company forward and make Operational Excellence our standard. I am thrilled to work with them to shape Smithfield’s promising future.”
Senior Leadership Appointments:
The following seven leaders report directly to Mr. Organ, effective immediately. Each has been given a C-level title, which is representative of the strategic value of their respective roles, the release says.
Russ Dokken was appointed chief sales officer, responsible for aligning sales, marketing, product innovation and business management initiatives. He has held multiple leadership positions at Smithfield Foods, including his most recent role as executive vice president, U.S. packaged meats. Dokken began his career in 1986 with John Morrell Food Group, a former independent operating company, where he held various positions in sales until it was acquired by Smithfield Foods in 1995.
Keira Lombardo assumed expanded responsibility as chief administrative officer and leads the company’s administrative operations, including corporate communications, external affairs, government affairs, human resources, investor relations, legal and sustainability functions. She joined Smithfield Foods in 2002 and has worked in a number of capacities for the company, including executive vice president, corporate affairs and compliance; senior vice president, corporate affairs; and vice president, investor relations and corporate communications.
Glenn Nunziata will continue in his role as chief financial officer and leads the finance, accounting, treasury, tax, risk management and IT functions. He is also the principal accounting officer. Nunziata joined Smithfield as chief financial officer in September 2015. Prior to joining Smithfield, he spent 19 years at Ernst & Young, most recently as a partner in assurance services.
Scott Saunders has been named chief supply chain officer, with responsibility over the company’s entire vertically integrated domestic supply chain. His previous roles at Smithfield include executive vice president, U.S. supply chain, and president, fresh pork division. Saunders also spent seven years as chief financial officer of John Morrell Food Group, a former independent operating company. He has more than 30 years of experience in the food industry having joined John Morrell in 2002 and beginning his career at Hormel Foods Corporation in 1986.
Shane Smith has been appointed chief strategy officer and helps develop, execute and sustain the company’s efforts to achieve growth through its own resources, as well as through mergers and acquisitions. He also continues to oversee the company’s European operations, including expansion into new markets, mergers and acquisitions and capital investments in Smithfield’s businesses. Smith joined Smithfield Foods in 2003 and previously served as executive vice president, European operations.
Brady Stewart has been named chief manufacturing officer and is directly responsible for Smithfield’s strategy implementation across the more than 500 company-owned farms and 45 production facilities in the United States, while overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company’s entire vertically integrated domestic business. He joined Smithfield in 2017 as vice president and general manager of Kansas City Sausage Company and Pine Ridge Farms when Smithfield acquired the companies. In 2019, he was promoted to executive vice president, U.S. hog production.
Joe Weber was appointed chief commodity hedging officer, responsible for commodity hedging activities and research, and analysis of economic factors that impact business. He also manages the price and cost risks associated with commodity inputs and leads Smithfield’s hog procurement efforts. He joined Smithfield Foods in 1994 and most recently served as executive vice president, growth and emerging business.
Executive Vice President Appointments:
These five individuals have been promoted to executive vice president to support the senior leadership team:
Luis Cerdan has been appointed executive vice president, European operations, reporting to Smith. He is responsible for the profitability of Smithfield’s European operations in Poland, Romania and the U.K. Cerdan joined Smithfield in 2002 and most recently served as president of Smithfield Poland.
Jamie Dik has been named executive vice president, fresh meats, and oversees the domestic and international sales and business management for Smithfield Foods’ fresh meats portfolio where she is responsible for achieving revenue and profit goals. She joined Smithfield in 2012 and has held a variety of sales and business management roles in the company’s fresh pork business, most recently as senior vice president, business management.
Steve France was appointed executive vice president, packaged meats, and is directly responsible for Smithfield’s packaged meats and value-added fresh sales, with accountability for revenue and profit goals across all trade channels. In this role, he also leads the company’s marketing and innovation teams. Prior to this role, France served as senior vice president, packaged sales.
Dik and France both report to Dokken.
Mark Hall has been named executive vice president, finance, reporting to Nunziata. His responsibilities include financial planning and analysis, operations and logistics finance, trade spend, data analytics and project and capital management in support of U.S. business. Hall joined Smithfield Foods in 2014 as vice president of finance and was promoted to senior vice president, finance, in 2019.
John Sargent was appointed executive vice president, hog production, reporting to Stewart. He is directly responsible for the profitability of Smithfield’s U.S. hog production operations, which are comprised of roughly 530 company-owned and 2,100 contract farms in 15 states producing nearly 18 million hogs per year. Sargent joined Smithfield Foods in 2007 and most recently served as vice president, U.S. hog production.
