The International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) has announced Novus International President and CEO Thad Simons will be the new president of the organization’s Board of Directors. IFAMA is a leading agribusiness nonprofit that brings together the best minds from all sectors of food production and consumption to improve the industry. IFAMA made the announcement at its 23rd Annual World Forum and Symposium.

Mr Simons succeeds Mary Shelman, director of the agribusiness program at Harvard Business School. During her term as IFAMA president, Shelman was instrumental in expanding the global footprint of the organization.

“Mary’s work sets an impressive standard for IFAMA’s leadership,” said Simons. “I look forward to the opportunity to build upon her initiatives and further IFAMA’s efforts to ensure the agribusiness industry will meet the world population’s need for affordable, sustainable food sources.”

During his two-year term as IFAMA’s president, Mr Simons specifically seeks to focus the organization’s efforts on global talent development for agriculture.

“From my first encounter with IFAMA, I understood the unique value that the organization creates by providing a connection to talent around the world,” stated Mr Simons. “IFAMA is uniquely positioned to serve agribusiness because we stand at the nexus of education, industry and the future – our student stakeholders.”

Mr Simons brings to IFAMA extensive agribusiness experience and industry know-how. As the president and CEO of Novus International, a global health and animal nutrition leader, since 2001, Simons pursues the company’s vision to feed the world affordable, wholesome food. Simons does this by creating an environment friendly to developing market-specific solutions based on the company’s core technologies.

Mr Simons also has been recognized as an industry leader, most recently receiving the 2013 Agribusiness Leader of the Year award from the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA).