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The Sulphur Institute (TSI) has announced the selection of Ron Olson as its agronomist. Olson has over 30 years of experience as an independent consulting agronomist as well as 15 years with Cargill and The Mosaic Company. His agronomic consulting company worked directly with farmers and agricultural retailers offering custom soil sampling and soil analysis, and crop management expertise. The company pioneered the implementation of using precision agriculture tools for taking soil samples on a 2.5 acre grid, converting that data to computer maps and linking that data to GPS/GIS technology to develop crop management programs to achieve maximum economic yields. With Cargill and Mosaic he served as Research and Development Manager and led the team that developed the MicroEssentials™ suite of products., which has grown to become the leading commercial sulphur enhanced fertilizer sold globally.

“TSI is delighted with Ron Olson’s eagerness to assist with the sulphur agronomy needs of our members”, said John Bryant, TSI President. “Ron brings a highly applicable and successful background in sulphur fertilizers. Ron will also readily assist us with our important work on sulphur advocacy and other TSI services.”

IFA has announced the appointment of its Senior Director of Agriculture, Patrick Heffer, as the organisation’s Interim Director General as of May 1st. A formal search process for the next Director General has already been launched. Previous IFA Director General Charlotte Hebebrand stepped down at the end of April to assume a new role as Executive Vice-President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Nutrien, and says that she looks forward to continuing engagement with IFA.

During her nearly eight years’ tenure at IFA, Hebebrand, working closely with the IFA board and secretariat, introduced a number of new areas of focus and initiatives, including a reshaping and expansion of IFA’s market intelligence, a strong emphasis on product and nutrient stewardship, enhanced policy and research capabilities and an expansion of multi-lateral engagements and international cooperation.

“Charlotte has made significant and lasting contributions to IFA and to our industry” said IFA Chairman and CEO of OCP, Mostafa Terrab, who recognised in particular her commitment to dialogue and her far-sighted approach to long-term development and growth, such as the distillation of the plausible future scenarios as part of the IFA 2030 strategic exercise, as well as the creation of a Scientific Panel on Responsible Plant Nutrition. “The Board would like to thank her for her extraordinary service and leadership”.

Patrick Heffer is a very experienced, longstanding executive team member who joined IFA in 2002 and for the past 18 years has coordinated the association’s global agronomic, market and policy activities in relation to fertilizer use. Before joining IFA, he spent 15 years with the seed industry, including five years with the International Seed Federation, and two years with the FAO’s Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service.

Heffer, whose appointment coincides with the new global challenges caused by the Covid Pandemic, remarked: “I am grateful for this opportunity, and in cooperation with IFA’s team of directors as well as IFA’s experienced and devoted staff, I will make sure that the Association continues to deliver on its goals and objectives. In these trying times, we, at IFA, are even more committed to delivering the support, in terms of information, benchmarks, data, market insights, partnerships, policy analysis and reputation management tools, that our members and external stakeholders expect from us.”

Gambarotta Gschwendt gas announce the appointment of Davide Gambarotta as its new Chief Executive Officer and sole owner designate. He replaces the former CEO with immediate effect, and will keep on his position as CEO and sole director of MDG Handling Solutions. Gambarotta Gschwendt and MDG will operate jointly under the Gambarotta Group, with Gambarotta Gschwendt responsible for the design and production of equipment for bulk material handling and MDG Handling Solutions offering complete EP/EPC packages.

In May Roeland Baan joined Haldor Topsoe as the company’s new CEO, following the announcement of his appointment back in February. Baan was previously CEO of Finnish steel giant Outokumpu. On his first day in the office, Baan said: “This is a special day for me. Topsoe is an exceptional company that has made a huge difference for the refining and chemical industries for decades. I have no doubt that Topsoe has the potential to expand this strong market position and lead the way into a more sustainable and energy-efficient future. I have been looking forward to begin this journey together with the board and the leadership team as well as Topsoe’s customers and dedicated employees.”