The Fertilizer Institute has hired Estelle Grasset as a public affairs specialist. Grasset, a French national and graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, is fluent in French and Spanish, and in addition to other duties is expected to translate Nutrients for Life Foundation materials. She previously worked for TFI as executive assistant to the president. Other members of TFI’s communications staff include Vice President of Public Affairs Kathy Mathers, Communications Director Harriet Wegmeyer, and Information Technology Manager Justin Sharbaugh.
Effective Nov. 1, Compass Minerals has realigned its leadership team to better support strategic growth options. David Goadby will serve as vice president, strategic development, and will be responsible for identifying strategic internal and external opportunities for long-term growth. He has most recently served as vice president and managing director of Salt Union Ltd., the company’s U.K. subsidiary. He will continue to serve as chairman of Minosus Ltd., a joint venture. Ronald Bryan, who has been leading Great Salt Lake Minerals, the company’s specialty fertilizer subsidiary, will assume additional responsibilities for Salt Union as vice president and general manager of Great Salt Lake Minerals and Salt Union. His appointment is designed to strengthen the company’s international capabilities by leveraging collaboration among its global operations. Goadby and Bryan will continue to report to Compass President and CEO Angelo Brisimitzakis, and serve on the company’s corporate executive council.
Lloyd Schwarting, Growmark Inc. plant food procurement and distribution manager, has announced that he will be retiring effective Jan. 2, 2007. He has been with the Growmark system for over 45 years. For the past 20 years his role has been purchasing and positioning of fertilizers in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast, and in Ontario.
Michael Elliott has been promoted to the position of market manager, nitrogen, and Mike May has been promoted to the position of market manager, phosphates and potash. They will now be responsible for the purchasing and positioning of all fertilizers Growmark-wide. They both report to Joe Dillier, plant food market manager.
The National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, Kan., inducted Justus von Liebig on Oct. 27 in recognition of his achievements in agriculture. Liebig (1803-1873) was a German chemist who is dubbed the “father of the fertilizer industry” for his discoveries on the effects of nutrients on crops, laying down the foundation for advancements in modern agricultural practices. Kathy Mathers, vice president of public affairs for The Fertilizer Institute, accepted the award on behalf of the fertilizer industry. Also honored at the ceremony were Sen. Robert J. Dole and Oliver Hudson Kelley, co-founder of the National Grange.
UAP Holding Corp. announced that Marc Becker, a partner and officer of certain affiliates of Apollo Management, had notified the company of his intention to resign as a director and as a member of its nominating and governance committee, effective upon completion of UAP’s recently announced underwritten offering (see news brief). UAP said Becker “did not have any disagreements with UAP Holding Corp. relating to its operations, policies or practices.”
UAP Holding Corp. recently elected Michael Ducey as an independent director, filling the seat vacated by the resignation of Robert Katz. Ducey is the retired CEO, president, and director of Compass Minerals International Inc., a producer of salt and specialty potash.
Gary Baise, Agricultural Retailers Association general counsel, has been reappointed to a two-year term on the 2006-08 Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF), which is responsible for advising the secretary of agriculture on air quality issues and reviewing EPA and Department of Justice enforcement actions against farming operations. Baise was originally recommended to the 29-member task force in 2004 by ARA, the Agricultural Food and Transporters Conference, the National Wheat Growers, and the National Sorghum Growers. According to ARA, “Baise has been instrumental in helping the committee craft definitions that would help protect animal and crop production agriculture from environmental law suits. As chairman of the AAQTF Policy Committee, Baise drafted policy statements to encourage the USDA to support carbon trading credits for production agriculture and timber production.”
Terra Industries Inc. has named John Huey, 59, as its vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary. Most recently, he was Of Counsel with Shughart Thomson & Kilroy P.C., a large Kansas City law firm. He has also worked for Borden Inc. and Butler Manufacturing Co.