Ingredients industry appointments roundup

New appointments this week in the ingredients industry include a new director of marketing at Galaxy and a number of new department of agriculture positions.

Galaxy Nutritional Foods, a leading producer of plant-based dairy alternatives announced that Hilary Taube has been appointed director of marketing.

Galaxy Nutritional Foods claims to use a unique "hot process" to produce phytonutrient-enriched products, made from soy, rice and oats.

Herbalife, a US-based nutritional ingredient marketing firm, has appointed Yoshio Yoshimoto and Ryuzaburo Tanino to its Medical Advisory Board. The board guides product research and development, ensuring the quality, benefits and safety of products.

Sabinsa Corporation, a manufacturer and supplier of herbal extracts and specialty fine chemicals, has appointed Hame Persaud senior vice president of sales and marketing. "Hame brings to Sabinsa more than 18 years experience in developing and marketing products," said Todd Norton, Sabinsa Corporation president.

Meanwhile, ConAgra Foods has formed a search committee for a new chief executive officer.

Bruce Rohde, chairman and chief executive officer of the food giant, formally asked the company's board to establish the committee, which will be headed by Steven F. Goldstone, a director and the retired chairman and CEO of RJR Nabisco.

Rohde has been CEO of ConAgra since September 1997 and chairman since September 1998. "My goal here is to set the stage for purposeful succession planning," he said.

In other news, AACC International, the non-profit organization for specialists in the use of cereal grains in foods, has announced the election of new officials for 2005-2006.

Robert Hamer has been voted president-elect and Laura Hansen has been elected board director. The new officers will begin serving their terms at the conclusion of the AACC International Annual Meeting,11 - 14 September 2005 in Orlando, Florida.

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has appointed Randy Dennis as chief grain inspector for Canada. His task will be to oversee the CGC's grain inspection, grading and certification programs, which are designed to preserve and enhance the quality and integrity of Canada's cereal grains, oilseeds and pulses.

"Randy brings 28 years of experience in grain inspection and quality assurance, both from working in the Pacific region and as regional director of the Prairie region," said Chris Hamblin, CGC chief commissioner.

A number of USDA appointments have been made this week. Agriculture secretary Mike Johanns announced that one member, Charles T. Edens and two alternate members, Gilbert O. Harris and Edward M. Rast Jr, have been appointed to the National Peanut Board.

The 10-member board is composed of eligible peanut producers. The nominees were appointed from nominations submitted by certified peanut producer organizations.In addition, Johanns has appointed Carol Steed as alternate producer member to serve on the Hass Avocado Board.

And finally, the US Grains Council, a private, non-profit corporation working to develop export markets for US produced maize, grain sorghum and related products, is seeking resumes from consultants interested in beingconsidered as candidates for a one year project manager position for its Iraq Finance Program.

The Project Manager, initially based in Amman, Jordan, will work with a governing board of Iraqi private sector leaders to establish guidelines for accessing loans. The position requires an undergraduate degree in business management or economics and 5-7 years professional experience in an international atmosphere.