Hired and Retired: Dynamic talent shifts at Nutreco, Cargill, AB Agri, and beyond

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© GettyImages/sturti (Getty Images)

We have seen lots of hat swapping and new hires in the industry over the past few weeks. Let's take a look.

Hired and Retired: Who is moving where in December?
Hired and Retired: Who is moving where in December? (sturti/Getty Images)
 AB Agri enlists algae specialist to propel UK feed protein pilot plant initiative
AB Agri enlists algae specialist to propel UK feed protein pilot plant initiative

Eleanor Wood has joined Livalta, an AB Agri company, as an algae specialist for its pilot plant testing a new technology to grow algae using CO2 emissions as feed ingredients.

The UK project is being carried out in collaboration with Canada's Pond Technologies.

Wood has a strong background and interest in algae research, having completed a PhD study at the Scottish Association for Marine Science.

Prior to this, she was a research technician at Swansea University, where she worked on the ALG-AD initiative, an EU Interreg project aimed at cleaning nutrient-rich digestate from anaerobic digestion and then using the recovered nutrients in sustainable feed products.

She has also worked as an algal technician at Xanthella Ltd.

Castex anticipates leadership role as incoming CEO of Lallemand Animal Nutrition
Castex anticipates leadership role as incoming CEO of Lallemand Animal Nutrition (OZE PHOTOGRAPHIE)

Mathieu Castex will succeed Yannig Le Treut as president and CEO of Lallemand Animal Nutrition (LAN) in February next year.

An executive with a strong scientific background, Dr Castex has been head of research and development at LAN since 2014.

To ensure a seamless transition, Dr Le Treut will assume the role of senior VP and special advisor at the Lallemand Group level, while supporting LAN's management team and leadership transition over the next few years.

Bill Nankervis, executive VP and COO of Lallemand Group, said Dr Castex’s scientific expertise, product management and commercial experience make him “an excellent choice to build on the success Yannig has achieved over the past decade.”

Dr Castex joined LAN in 2009 as a product manager leading the yeast derivatives and aquaculture portfolio. He graduated from AgrosParisTech in Paris, France, now part of the University of Paris-Saclay, and holds a PhD in microbiology and nutritional physiology.

Cogeca elects new president
Cogeca elects new president

At the end of November, the European agricultural cooperative organization, Cogeca, elected Lennart Nilsson of the Swedish organization, LRF, to lead the group, which represents more than 22,000 agricultural cooperatives in the EU.

Nilsson will replace outgoing Spanish president, Ramon Armengol, in January.

Cogeca members said they opted for experience in electing Nilsson, who has been active in his cooperative, Lantmännen, at the national level and in Copa and Cogeca working groups for several years.

Commenting on his new role, Nilsson said he was aware of the responsibility he is taking on, noting the numerous obstacles the organization has faced in recent years, from the aftermath of the COVID crisis to the war in Ukraine to runaway inflation.

Mindful of those challenges, he said he hopes that farmers and cooperatives can be part of the discussions at the EU level in relation to solutions and that they can play a key role in the green transition.

Pictured are Ramon Armengol and Lennart Nilsson.

Nutreco names managing director for Asia
Nutreco names managing director for Asia

Noel Kim has been appointed managing director for Nutreco Asia, effective January 2024.  

Prior to joining Nutreco, Kim led the Animal Nutrition Asia Pacific business line for Evonik as VP Asia Pacific and spent 15 years at Cargill with roles in both the US and Asia where he led several growth-oriented businesses, major strategic transformations, acquisitions and post-merger integrations.

Kim holds a degree in biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from the University of Virginia.

In this role, he will be responsible for both Trouw Nutrition's animal nutrition and Skretting's aquaculture businesses. Kim will be based in Thailand, reporting to Therese Log Bergjord, CEO Skretting, and will continue to work closely with David Blakemore, CEO Trouw Nutrition.   

"Noel brings a wealth of strategic business management and leadership experience to the team, as well as in-depth knowledge of the Asian region," said Log Bergjord.

Kim noted that both the animal nutrition and aquaculture industries are "undergoing exciting changes" marked by new innovations and advances.

"I look forward to exploring the business opportunities across Asia that will enable sustainable growth.”

Cargill Aqua Nutrition appoints new MD for North Sea & Canada region
Cargill Aqua Nutrition appoints new MD for North Sea & Canada region (silje katrine robinson)

Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Tarjei Eide, will take over as MD of Cargill Aqua Nutrition's North Sea & Canada business from January next year.

He replaces Fredrik Witte, who has decided to leave Cargill after more than nine years with the business. 

Eide will be responsible for the CQN North Sea & Canada business. He will join the CQN Global Leadership Team and report to Helene Ziv-Douki, CQN president and global group Leader.

Cargill's North Sea & Canada business, within the global Cargill Aqua Nutrition group, is focused on salmonoid feed production in Norway, supplying feeds to customers from three plants along the Norwegian coast, a plant in Westfield, Scotland, and a plant in British Columbia, Canada.

Eide joined Cargill in 2018 as head of finance for Cargill Aqua Nutrition (CQN) North Sea & Canada, after 10 years in management consulting. He holds a master's degree in finance from NHH Norwegian School of Economics.

He has been part of the North Sea & Canada business leadership team since joining Cargill and has helped develop the business both in Europe and globally, reported the company.

Eide is also a board member of EWOS Innovation AS in Dirdal.

Seaweed producer OHT hires new CFO to drive financial strategy
Seaweed producer OHT hires new CFO to drive financial strategy

Ocean Harvest Technology (OHT), a producer of seaweed products for the feed industry, has appointed Christopher Scott as its new chief financial officer (CFO), effective mid-January 2024.

Scott is a chartered accountant and CFA charterholder.

He joins OHT from FrieslandCampina, the dairy cooperative headquartered in the Netherlands, where he is currently finance director for the UK and Ireland. Prior to this, he held a number of senior finance positions, including with leading multinational Kimberly-Clark UK.

Andy Cox will continue in his role as interim CFO until Scott joins the company.

CH4 Global appoints seasoned CFO to spearhead its growth and expansion strategy
CH4 Global appoints seasoned CFO to spearhead its growth and expansion strategy (Hand-out/CH4 Global, Inc.)

CH4 Global has named Steve Chun as its new chief financial officer (CFO).

This strategic appointment marks "a significant milestone in CH4 Global’s journey towards operational profitability and global reach," said Dr Meller, chief executive of CEO of the Nevada, US based developer of red seaweed derived feed additives designed to suppress methane emissions in cattle.

Chun joins the organization from SHC Capital, where he served as a MD, and prior to that from a pioneering role as co-founder, CFO, and chief strategy officer at DEPCOM Power Inc.

CH4 Global said Chun's extensive track record is underscored by his ability to grow companies to prosperity by implementing essential process frameworks and structural improvements. His areas of expertise include private equity financing, credit management, structured finance strategies, cost optimization, financial modelling, and supply chain refinement.