Names in the News
New hires, promotions, retirements
Natural Biologics promotes Guidault to CFO, COO
Natural Biologics announced the promotion of Edmond Guidault to chief financial officer and chief operations officer as well as his appointment as a partner in the company. This recognition comes on the heels of a record-breaking fiscal year in which the company achieved 56% revenue growth and successfully expanded into several high-potential international markets. Since joining Natural Biologics as a contract comptroller in 2019 and later stepping into the full-time role of vice president of operations and finance, Guidault has been instrumental in the company’s rapid growth and operational excellence. His strategic foresight and calm leadership have helped the company consistently meet.
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Kemin Industries mourns loss of co-founder R.W. Nelson
R.W. Nelson, co-founder and chairman of the board of Kemin Industries, passed away peacefully at his home in Des Moines, Iowa, on April 7, 2025, at the age of 98, according to a company news release. Nelson was an innovative business leader, a celebrated salesman, an inventor, and a quietly generous philanthropist in central Iowa and around the world. "We deeply mourn the passing of R.W. – our family patriarch and one of the visionaries behind Kemin. He was beloved by our family, countless customers around the world and thousands of Kemin employees whose lives he touched for more than six decades," said Dr. Chris Nelson, president and chief executive officer of Kemin Industries and the eldest son of R.W.
Foremost Farms CEO stepping down
Foremost Farms USA, a major Midwest dairy cooperative and dairy manufacturing company, announced today that Greg Schlafer resigned his role as president and chief executive officer, effective April 11, 2025. Schlafer joined Foremost Farms in December 2019 to restore the cooperative’s performance and financial stability. In his five-year tenure, Schlafer guided the cooperative from bank forbearance to lending group credibility. He led a transformation that strengthened operational performance and positioned Foremost Farms for future success by prioritizing investments in people, plants, new processes and technology and establishing a new headquarters.
Hormel Foods announces supply chain leadership change
Hormel Foods Corp., a global branded food company, announced that Steve Lykken, group vice president of supply chain, will be leaving the company, and Dr. Kevin Myers has been appointed interim group vice president of supply chain. Myers joined Hormel Foods in 2001 as a research scientist and has since taken on roles of increasing responsibility. In 2015, he was appointed senior vice president of research and development and quality control, overseeing product development, packaging, food safety sciences and lab services. Before joining the company, Myers spent a decade in the food industry, holding leadership positions in food technology, research science and new product development.Read more
Wayne-Sanderson Farms names president, CEO
Wayne-Sanderson Farms, the nation's third-largest poultry producer, announced the promotion of Kevin McDaniel to president and chief executive officer. McDaniel succeeds Clint Rivers, who will continue to serve as executive chairman of the board for Wayne-Sanderson Farms through the 2026 fiscal year. McDaniel most recently served as chief operating officer, overseeing the company's fresh, retail and prepared foods business units, as well as leading its engineering and marketing functions. His previous roles at Wayne-Sanderson Farms include senior director of fresh operations and vice president and general manager of the Fresh business unit. Read more
National Pork Board CEO Bill Even stepping down effective May 1
The National Pork Board, the producer-led and consumer-focused national Pork Checkoff organization, has announced that Bill Even, chief executive officer of NPB, will be stepping down from the role this spring. Even’s last day with the organization will be Thursday, May 1. He will return to his family’s South Dakota farming operation, where he and his wife Janell will be closer to their extended families and five grandchildren and reengage with their family business. The board has appointed Alex Wibholm, NPB’s senior vice president of operations, to serve as interim effective May 1, while the board conducts a national search for the next CEO of the Pork Checkoff. Wibholm joined NPB in April 2018. Read more
McCreery joins CSA Animal Nutrition as poultry nutritionist
CSA Animal Nutrition is pleased to announce that David McCreery has joined its team as a consulting poultry nutritionist. McCreery will provide nutrition consulting services and technical support to CSA’s poultry clients. He will be working with CSA customers to achieve production goals and improve their economic outcome. CSA Animal Nutrition’s President, Charles Shininger, expressed his excitement about McCreery’s background, skills and industry experience in broiler nutrition that he brings to the poultry nutrition team. CSA is committed to investing in and building our talented team with nutritionists that have practical industry nutrition experience that can deliver value to our clients.Read more
IMV Technologies appoints new CEO
The IMV Technologies Group, global leader in animal-assisted reproductive biotechnologies, announced a change at the head of its company, with Oliver Kohlhaas succeeding Alain de Lambilly as chief executive officer as of April 1, 2025.
Kohlhaas had a career spanning more than 20 years with the Bayer Group. He managed pharmaceutical activities in France and Germany and spent five years as head of global marketing for the animal health business, before taking charge of corporate strategy and internal consulting for another five years. After leaving Bayer, he started his own consulting business before joining IMV Technologies.Read more
DTB AgriTrade welcomes Skahill as partner
DTB AgriTrade LLP, a leading agricultural trade consulting firm, announced that Mike Skahill has joined the firm as a partner. Skahill has years of experience in the food and agriculture trade policy sector both domestically and in international markets. Previously, he was global director of government affairs for Lineage Logistics, the world's largest temperature-controlled warehouse real estate investment trust. Prior to that role, Skahill was with Smithfield Foods for 23 years as vice president of international sales and government affairs. He has also held leadership positions with Louis Dreyfus Corp., the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and Cargill Inc.