CHS Inc. has named Josh Blaisdell to the newly created position of vice president, corporate compliance. “At CHS, stewardship is one of our core values. That means not only giving back our time, talents and resources, but making certain we operate all of our businesses with the utmost commitment to the environment, health and safety; and in compliance with the laws and regulations under which CHS operates,” said John Johnson, CHS president and chief executive officer. “This new position consolidates our current efforts under a single leader who can take our solid record of performance to new levels.”
Blaisdell will lead overall CHS domestic and international compliance and audit programs, heading a team that includes CHS environmental, health and safety, business continuity/disaster recovery, and internal audit functions. He will be responsible for corporate compliance and results, including government rules/regulations and development of company policies and procedures, as well as implementation and maintenance of state-of-the-art compliance programs, policies, and procedures. In addition, his team will be responsible for audit, training, and related activities that promote legal and ethical conduct. Blaisdell will report to David Kastelic, senior vice president of the new CHS legal and compliance department, effective Jan. 1, 2010.
Blaisdell joined CHS in 1990 and has served as tax director since 1995, with responsibility for all domestic and international tax-related matters. He also led the implementation of the CHS company-wide Sarbanes-Oxley compliance program, and had responsibility for its ongoing management. Blaisdell previously worked for Dyco Petroleum, Minneapolis, served as a tax accountant, and was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. He holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Idaho, and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota. He is an active member of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives and the Legal, Tax and Accounting Committee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
The Andersons Inc. has named Nicholas Conrad as vice president, finance & treasurer, effective Nov. 1. He fills a position vacated by Gary Smith, who is retiring after 29 years with the company. In his new role, Conrad will oversee the corporate functions of finance, treasury, investor relations, credit, and insurance. An employee of The Andersons since 1984, Conrad has most recently served as the assistant treasurer. He has also served as cash manager and credit manager. Conrad served with two financial institutions for eight years before joining the company. He has an MBA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Master of Arts degree in English from The University of Toledo, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree in English. In 2006, Conrad attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Program.
The Andersons Inc. has named John Stout Jr. to the company’s board of directors, bringing board membership up to 10 members. Stout currently serves as the CEO of Plaza Belmont Management Group LLC, a private equity firm specializing in the acquisition of food manufacturing companies, a position he has held since founding the company in 1998. Between 1984 and 1990, he was executive vice president of Dixie Portland Flour Mills Inc., Memphis, Tenn. In 1990, Stout helped form a group of investors who purchased Diana Fruit Co. in Santa Clara, Calif., from Tyson Foods, Inc., and he continues to be involved in the ownership of that company. From 1991 to 1998 he served as president of Manildra Milling Corp. and Manildra Energy Corp., located in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. For the past six years, Stout has served on the Economic Advisory Council of the District Ten Federal Reserve Bank. He is active within the food industry, having served as chairman of the International Wheat Gluten Association, the Wheat Quality Council, the Allied Trades of the Baking Industry, and the Young Baking Industry Executives of the ABA. Currently, Stout serves on the boards of directors of Diana Fruit Co., Mennel Milling Co., Packaging Products Corporation, MaMa Rosa’s Pizza, and Casa de Oro Foods. He holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Emory University.
Viterra Inc. President and CEO Mayo Schmidt has been named Chief Executive of the Year by Canadian Business Magazine. Candidates for the award are evaluated based on specific performance metrics, including annualized shareholder return, annual growth rate, and corporate net income. “Since his arrival at Viterra in 2000, Mayo has shown extraordinary vision and leadership,” said Thomas Birks, Viterra’s board chair. “His strategic and disciplined approach has positioned Viterra as a leader in shaping the future of agriculture and expanding Viterra’s reach in North America and around the world.”
Earlier this year, Schmidt led the successful acquisition of ABB Grain Ltd. of Australia, establishing an international presence for Viterra as a premium quality ingredients supplier to leading global food manufacturers. In 2007 he spearheaded the successful acquisition of Agricore United by Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, creating Canada’s largest agribusiness.