Cold Foods Industry News

Koelnmesse parts ways with COO, and more

ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Koelnmesse, Germany
The producer of Anuga Fair Trade shows parted ways with Katharina Hamma, chief operating officer, effective Nov. 16. Gerald Böse, chief executive officer, will assume Hamma's previous responsibilities. Hamma, previously an authorized signatory at Messe München, was appointed to the management board in 2011 to fill the newly created COO position.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA), Washington, D.C.
William Beam was appointed to serve as deputy administrator of farm programs (DAFP), effective Oct. 22, responsible for overseeing and implementing policies and procedures that regulate the delivery of federal farm programs. He will also oversee major portions of the farm bill, including programs that help America’s farmers, ranchers and forest stewards manage market risks, recover from disasters and conserve and protect natural resources. Previously, Beam was president, owner and operator of Beam Farms, Inc., and owns and manages a sawdust trucking business. He was an appointed member of the United Soybean Board for nine years, where he traveled internationally promoting U.S. soybeans and export markets. He also served two years on the United States Soybean Export Council and held leadership positions with the Pennsylvania Soybean Board.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS:
Cargill, Minneapolis
Brian Sikes was named to lead the company’s global protein and salt businesses, succeeding Todd Hall, who announced his retirement after 36 years with the company. Sikes began his career at Cargill in 1991. Most recently, he led the transformation of the North American protein business and led the development of Cargill’s new North American protein headquarters in Wichita, Kan.

Hormel Foods, Austin, Minn.
Bill Newlands, president and COO of Constellation Brands, was elected to the board of directors, effective Nov. 19. Newlands was appointed president and CEO of Constellation Brands, effective March 1, 2019. Newlands joined Constellation in 2015 as executive vice president, chief growth officer. In 2016, his role expanded to include leadership of the wine and spirits division. In 2017, he became the company's chief operating officer, and in 2018, his role expanded to include president. Newlands previously served as president, North America at Beam, Inc. Previous appointments include president, Beam Spirits U.S. (2008-2010); president, Beam Wine Estates (2005-2007); president and CEO, Allied Domecq Wines USA (2002-2005); CEO and board director, wine.com (1999-2001); and managing director, U.S. and global marketing officer, LVMH Chandon Estates (1996-1999). He is a member of the board of directors of Canopy Growth Corp.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, Calif.
Alex Berkley was promoted to sales manager, responsible for the sales function. Berkley joined the company in 2011 in the company’s marketing department before moving into the sales department in 2014 as an account manager. She was later promoted to assistant sales manager in 2017. Berkley served as a member of the Produce Marketing Association’s Women’s Fresh Perspectives Advisory Committee and was co-chair from 2015-2017. She also served on the board of trustees of the Westerly School of Long Beach.

Church Brothers Farms, Salinas, Calif.
Mary (Langford) Poma joined as marketing and media specialist. Poma has spent time with other produce companies, including Dole Fresh Vegetables and Ocean Mist Farms, where she developed expertise in digital marketing, brand development and campaign management.

Caldic, The Netherlands
Floris van Eijndhoven was appointed to the newly created role of director digital transformation, tasked with coordinating existing and new digital initiatives and innovations, and working closely with customers, supply partners and senior executives to identify needs and opportunities in the market. For the past three years, van Eijndhoven has managed Caldic's industrial, health and personal care markets in Europe.

SUPPLIERS:
JLS Automation, York, Pa.
Tom Sosnoski was named director of sales, Western region for the United States and Canada. Previously, Sosnoski held several roles with Bosch Packaging Technology, including senior sales engineer, where he advised food, pharmaceutical and consumer goods companies on automation and packaging systems to improve operational efficiencies. He also spent significant time with its robotic group.

Vortex, Salinas, Kan.
Efrén Shayd Carmona Loya was appointed regional sales manager for Vortex Latinoamérica, the Mexico-based division, responsible for working directly with original equipment manufacturers, end users and industry specialists to further expand Vortex sales throughout Latin America. Shayd maintains more than 12 years of industrial sales experience. Previously, he worked as a market administrator for Cemex.