Yara International ASA has appointed Torgeir Kvidal as acting CFO and Jan Duerloo as acting head of Yara Upstream. Hallgeir Storvik, CFO, and Tor Holba, head of upstream, are stepping down from their executive management positions at their own request, Yara reported, until the situation is resolved with regard to the ongoing investigation (GM March 26, p. 10) by the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim).

Økokrim officially leveled charges against Storvik and Holba on May 18 (GM May 21, p. 13), alleging suspicion of “gross corruption” resulting from an investigation that commenced in 2011 (GM April 18, 2011). Storvik and Holba will continue to work for the company, but without their former responsibilities and not as members of executive management. Kvidal, currently head of Yara’s Supply and Trade business unit, will continue to hold that position going forward. Duerloo is currently head of the Projects and Technology business unit, and he will retain this position as well.

The Council of the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) on May 24 approved the appointment of Charlotte Hebebrand as its new director general. Hebebrand will be the first woman to hold this position, and will replace Luc Maene, IFA’s current director general, upon his retirement on Dec. 31, 2012. Hebebrand will start working at IFA’s office in Paris on Sept. 1, 2012, before assuming the position of director general on Jan. 1, 2013.

Hebebrand is the current chief executive of the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC), a think tank based in Washington, D.C. Prior to this role, she held positions at the European Commission and the Brookings Institution. She holds an M.A in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins University and is a dual German and U.S. citizen.

“It is a real pleasure to work for an industry that is doing so much for food security,” Hebebrand said. “I am looking forward to meeting all of IFA’s members and working closely with them on the key issue of feeding a growing population and improving the safety, health, and environmental impact of the industry’s operations.”

“Charlotte is eminently qualified to be the next leader of our industry,” said IFA President and PotashCorp CEO William J. Doyle at IFA’s 80th Annual Conference in Doha, Qatar, last week. “She has dedicated her career to food production and understands fully the value of fertilizers.”

Maene has been IFA’s director general since 1987. During his tenure, IFA’s membership expanded dramatically, adapting to changes in global market dynamics and involving new players, in particular in Asia. Maene’s accomplishments will be celebrated during IFA’s council meeting Nov. 28-29, 2012, in Rome, Italy.

"Luc Maene has done an outstanding job leading our global association for the last 25 years,” Doyle said. “He pushed our growth to the four corners of the world by greatly expanding our membership. His human touch was greatly appreciated by everyone and we are all very grateful to him for his many years of dedicated service to the fertilizer industry."

Dr. Sebastian Braum, manager of Agronomic Services for Yara in the western U.S., has decided to resign and pursue a career opportunity in another company, effective June 1. Dr. Bill Easterwood, chief agronomist for Yara in North America, will step in during this transition.

“We wish Sebastian success in his new endeavors and thank him for his good work during the past nine years,” said Geraldo Mattioli, vice president, U.S. Western Region. “Dr. Easterwood is very knowledgeable on specialty crops and actually worked directly in California earlier in his career for WGM, before Norsk Hydro (now Yara) acquired that company. I am sure that we will continue to deliver the high level of agronomic services that our customers are used to receiving with Bill leading our efforts.”