People on the move

Danisco has announced that Tom Knutzen will be the company's new CEO, replacing Alf Duch-Pedersen who is set to retire at the end of August 2006. The changeover is scheduled to take place on 1 May 2006. The company believes that Knutzen's international business profile, his management capabilities and the positive results achieved by NKT under his leadership make him the ideal choice. In other business news, René Steiner has been appointed president of Buhler North America. Within his capacity as president, Steiner will have full responsibility as the chief executive officer for the North American operation and will be responsible for the long-term strategy established by our corporate office. Flavor giant McCormick has announced that Robert G. Davey, president of the Global Industrial Group, will retire at the end of 2006. Meanwhile, Lou Gayo has joined Frutarom as vice president of operations. And finally, Land O'Lakes has named Chris Policinski as the company's new president and chief executive officer. Policinski will replace Jack Gherty, who is retiring after 35 years with the firm. Policinski, currently Land O'Lakes executive vice president and chief operating officer for Dairy Foods, has held various leadership positions with the company since joining the national food and agricultural cooperative in 1997. In Washington, US Wheat Associates vice president for government programs Nelson C. Denlinger has announced his retirement after almost 25 years with US Wheat. Denlinger joined US Wheat in 1981. He has provided expertise on a wide variety of government programs designed to expand US wheat exports, specializing in trade, credit and sanctioned country issues. Before coming to US Wheat, Denlinger worked in the US Senate, first as an agricultural legislative assistant to the late US Senator Hubert H Humphrey, Democrat of Minnesota, and then as chief clerk of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The US Senate has confirmed the nomination of Lester M. Crawford as the commissioner of the US food and drug administration (FDA). The vote to confirm Dr Crawford, who has been the FDA's acting commissioner for an extended period, was 78 to 16. "The FDA has a critical role in protecting the nation's food supply and ensuring the safety of the medicines we take based on the best science available," said Michael Leavitt, secretary for the US department of health and human services. "I look forward to working with Dr. Crawford and FDA as we seek to continue advancing the nation's health."