Animal health and nutrition company, Alltech, has formed a new innovation department, appointing Dr Kyle McKinney as vice president of innovation and Dr Rebecca Delles as innovation and analytics manager.
The team will be responsible for horizon scanning to meet the needs of tomorrow’s customers, rigorously challenging ideas before investment and bringing new technologies to market.
“Our new innovation department will serve as an important hub of connection, collaborating with our global sales team and customers to identify opportunities, piloting new innovations with our operations and sales teams and successfully launching new innovations into the market with the support of teams throughout our organization,” said Dr Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech.
Since 2018, Dr McKinney [pictured] has served as the global director of Alltech’s enzyme management platform. Prior to that role, he spent three years in Costa Rica focused on leveraging Alltech Crop Science technologies to control disease and reduce chemical applications. While there, he helped establish a fermentation lab to evaluate microbial solutions for disease control. He also worked in Alltech’s applications research program for more than a decade, playing an instrumental role in the design of an in vitro digestion system that evaluates diets and the impacts of feed technology in monogastric animals.
Dr McKinney received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural biotechnology from the University of Kentucky, his master’s degree in brewing and distilling fermentation technology from Heriot-Watt University and his PhD. in agricultural biotechnology from Harper Adams University.
Dr Delles has worked as a research scientist in Alltech since 2013. Her focus has been on the impact of nutritional strategies on the oxidative stability of fresh meat products and the role of nutrition on inflammaging - the impact of inflammation on the aging process - in companion animals. She received her bachelor’s degree in medical technology at the State University of New York at Fredonia and her master’s, PhD and MBA from the University of Kentucky.
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Board of Trustees and CGIAR have appointed Professor Appolinaire Djikeng as director general of ILRI and CGIAR senior director of livestock-based systems.
Professor Djikeng is a globally-recognized expert in developing multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, and global research and development programs focused on agricultural development, livestock development, and human health, according to the two organizations.
He will take over the role from Dr Shirley Tarawali.
Professor Djikeng said: "Livestock development is very close to me personally and it is a huge honor and privilege to take the helm of the world’s leading livestock research and development organisation, focused on improving outcomes for farmers, addressing challenges related to our environment and the sustainable use of natural resources, and delivering solutions to our increasingly vulnerable food systems.”
Professor Djikeng joins ILRI and CGIAR from the University of Edinburgh, where he is currently Professor and chair of tropical agriculture and sustainable development, as well as the director of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), which is based at the Roslin Institute.
He will retain his affiliation with the Roslin Institute of the University of Edinburgh, with the idea of strengthening the partnership with ILRI and the CGIAR system.
Dr Elsa Murano, chair of ILRI’s Board of Trustees, commented on the appointment: “Livestock is the fastest growing sector in agriculture, and it is essential that its growth is sustainable and equitable. Professor Djikeng’s research has been at the forefront of efforts to improve livestock systems and animal productivity for low- and middle-income countries."
Ib Jensen is to take over from Jan Secher as chief executive officer of the Perstorp Group, from March 1.
Perstorp is a specialty chemicals company headquartered in Malmö, Sweden, with it becoming part of PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) last year.
After more than nine years as the CEO of Perstorp, Jan Secher has decided to step down. Ib Jensen was chosen as his replacement. He has been CFO of Perstorp for the past year. The group said he was considered to be the most qualified candidate for the CEO role based on his knowledge of the company, and his experience of the specialty chemicals industry.
He has held executive roles in companies such as Arxada, Lonza, Syngenta, Danisco and LEGO.
“The company is entering a new chapter in its more than 140-year history and with PCG as our owner, a series of opportunities are opening up, well beyond what we have seen in the past. It serves as the perfect timing to hand over the reins to a most capable leader,” said Secher.
“On behalf of PCG, I am delighted to welcome Ib as the new CEO of Perstorp. He is an experienced executive leader, with a strong and deep understanding of the specialty chemicals industry on top of a solid track record in business optimization and financial management. He plays a key leadership role in the integration of Perstorp into the PCG family, while ensuring that Perstorp’s business is uninterrupted. His insights, knowledge and leadership will be invaluable as we work towards unlocking the synergies between Perstorp and PCG, in bringing the company through its next phase. We look forward to working with him.
“I also would like to put on record my appreciation and gratitude to Jan for his contribution for the past nine years. As the CEO, he led the company through challenging times, which required innovative solutions and decisions and has been instrumental to Perstorp’s achievements and growth in the specialty business. More importantly, he helped to steer the company to play a pioneering role in sustainability particularly in the development of pro-environment solutions for its customers. I am confident that Perstorp will continue to benefit from the foundation that he has built,” said Mohd Yusri Mohamed Yusof, PCG managing director and CEO.
Ib Jensen (right) takes over from Jan Secher (left) as new CEO of Perstorp Group. Photo credit: Perstorp
Cargill announced earlier this month that Jamie Miller had stepped down as its chief financial officer to accept an opportunity outside the company.
Joanne Knight will serve as Cargill’s acting CFO.
“We are grateful for Jamie’s service to Cargill,” said Brian Sikes, Cargill President and CEO. “Over the last few years, we have further strengthened our business model, expanded our business portfolio, and are well-positioned for long-term success.”
Sikes added: “Joanne is highly regarded by the Board and Executive Team for her strong track record of leadership and operating results and is well-equipped to take the role of acting CFO. She will step into the role from a position of strength as a seasoned finance leader who has built her career on delivering results through dynamic market cycles.”
Knight currently serves as vice president of finance for Cargill’s Agriculture Supply Chain enterprise, which includes Ocean Transportation and the World Trading Group.
Before Cargill, Knight spent 10 years in finance, marketing, and business leadership roles at General Mills that included P&L responsibility, as well as roles in supply chain finance, sales finance, and financial planning and analysis. She also held finance leadership roles at Wachovia. Knight earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Management from the University of Virginia and her Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University.
Jean-Marc Dublanc is to retire from Adisseo mid-2023, after 16 years at the company, 12 of which has been as chief executive.
He joined Adisseo in 2006 as director of innovation, marketing and sales, and was named CEO in 2010.
The company appointed Frédéric Jacquin as chief operation officer and deputy president.
