Brent Shonka, who currently manages Mosaic’s feed business, has been named country manager for China. In this capacity, he will have overall responsibility for Mosaic’s China business. Mosaic closed its Hong Kong commercial office and consolidated operations in Beijing in December. Mosaic said the new structure will help provide greater focus in growing its China businesses.
Shonka will transfer to Beijing at the end of January 2007 and will report to Eddy Fay. Reporting directly to Shonka will be Johnson Yeung. In addition, Brian Chang and Ivan Laui will have a dotted-line reporting relationship to Shonka.
The feed sales group will be now handled by Tom Philbin, vice president, marketing, out of the Plymouth, Minn., office. Reporting to Philbin on the feed side will be Gale Nicely, director, North American sales; Eddy Fontana, manager, Latin America sales; and Don (D.J.) Jernstrom, manager, Asia sales.
J.R. Simplot, the founder of the business empire that bears his name, suffered a head injury in a fall Monday night, Jan. 1, outside the University of Phoenix Stadium. He underwent emergency surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center to relieve brain swelling and was hospitalized in its intensive care unit. Company spokesman Fred Zerza said a CT scan was performed Monday night. Simplot was slowly regaining consciousness on Tuesday.
Simplot, who turned 98 on Thursday, Jan. 4, traveled to Phoenix to watch the Boise State University Broncos defeat the Oklahoma Sooners 43-42 in the Fiesta Bowl. Simplot holds a season pass to BSU games in Boise.