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The International Fertilizer Association (IFA) says that Svein Tore Holsether has been elected as its new chair of the Association. IFA said in its press release that the selection of Holsether, the president and CEO of Yara International, is a continuation of the industry’s commitment to sustainability.

“I am honoured to be appointed Chair of IFA because the fertilizer industry has a key role in finding sustainable solutions to some of the greatest challenges the world is facing. As an industry, we need to lead the way to decarbonise food and build resilient and fair food systems,” Holsether said.

Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of Russia’s Ural-Chem, has become the new vice chair of the Association. Both Holsether and Konyaev serve on the executive board of directors, which also welcomed two new appointments: Jeanne Johns, managing director and CEO of Incitec Pivot Ltd, and Tony Will, president and CEO of CF Industries. Mostafa Terrab, group chairman and CEO of OCP, Morocco, remains on the executive board of directors as Immediate Past Chair, along with Zhai Jidong, vice president international for Kingenta, and Alzbeta Klein, director general of IFA.

There are also five new Board Directors elected by the membership: G. David Delaney, CEO, Itafos; Ahmed El-Hoshy, Group CEO, OCI NV; Shakeel Ahmad Khan, CEO, Petronas Chemicals Marketing; Suresh Krishnan, managing director, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd and Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers; and Mayo Schmidt, president and CEO, Nutrien. IFA members also re-elected to the board of directors Raviv Zoller, president and CEO, ICL Group.

Haldor Topsoe has established a new green hydrogen organisation to accelerate all aspects of the company’s business within the field of electrolysis, including development of high-performance electrolysis technology, sales, and partnerships. Cleantech entrepreneur Chokri Mousaoui becomes the new member of Topsoe’s Senior Leadership Team and executive vice president of the new organisation.

“At the core of our efforts is our capability to turn renewable power into essential carbon-neutral fuels and chemicals. We have Topsoe’s leading electrolysis technology, now we add the fully focused organization and leadership needed to realize its true potential. I am thrilled to welcome Chokri Mousaoui as Executive Vice President and head of the organization. Chokri brings great leadership and commercial experience from a highly successful tech startup and will lead our work to accelerate the commercialization of our green hydrogen business,” said Roeland Baan, CEO of Topsoe.

Chokri Mousaoui co-founded Eternal Sun in 2011, which specialises in equipment for testing solar modules. Under his leadership, the company evolved from a start-up to the market leader within solar testing. In 2016, the company acquired the solar simulator division of US-based Spire Solar Corporation, and in 2019 ABN AMRO Energy Transition Fund joined as new majority shareholder.

“I am impressed with Topsoe’s bold vision of being recognised as the global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024, not least because the company truly has what it takes to make an exceptional contribution to move the energy transition forward. I really look forward to working together with the talented people here to commercialise our green hydrogen offerings and bring them to the market fast. The demand for innovative solutions is significant and growing,” said Chokri Mousaoui.

Nirlep Singh Rai has become the new Director (Technical) at India’s National Fertilizer Ltd (NFL. He previously served as executive director in the same company, and is also chief executive officer (CEO) of Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL), a joint venture between NFL, Engineers India Ltd (EIL) and the Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL). Rai has previously run technical services and projects at NFL’s Bathinda plant. His experience includes technical services and operation and maintenance of large scale fertilizer plants.

Sergey Klyavlin, who previously headed the Belorechensk Mineral Fertilizers company, has become CEO of Nevinnomyssky Azot. Both companies are subsidiaries of EuroChem. Before working at the Belorechensk Mineral Fertilizers company, Klyavlin headed the department for the production of complex fertilizers at Nevinnomyssky Azot. Viktor Keil, who has managed Nevinnomyssky Azot for almost 20 years, has been appointed Deputy Head of the Fertilizers division at EuroChem.