In his new position, Dr Powell will have a much diversified role. He will report to Mark Barnes, COO of Hubbard LLC.

Primarily, Dr Powell will be responsible for continuation and implementation of all avian health programmes inside the organization. As such, his duties will be to oversee bio-security, including farm, feed mill and quality assurance audits as well as the flock and hatchery monitoring undertaken by the two Hubbard laboratories in Walpole and Pikeville.

Dr Ken Powell

Furthermore he will be available for customer technical issues involving veterinary and live production aspects (health, quality, diseases etc.), including seminars and/or roundtables. He will also serve as the official company representative in industry-related associations. And he will work with the regional, state and federal veterinary departments in conjunction with the export department for the continual supply of breeding stock outside the US.

Dr Powell is one of the most respected field veterinarians in the US and his knowledge has reached many places. He received his bachelor's degree in Microbiology from Oklahoma State University in 1981 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, also from Oklahoma State University, in 1986. He also performed a residency in diagnostic medicine at University of Illinois from 1986 to 1988.

He has provided veterinary and nutritional guidance to the poultry industry for the past 16 years. He has travelled worldwide and understands the issues that face the industry in other countries. Dr Powell has worked and developed meaningful professional relationships with key industry and university people domestically and internationally.

From a research standpoint, he is actively involved in medical research domestically and internationally. He has authored or co-authored over 27 scientific manuscripts and/or presentations concerning immune function and/or nutritional assessment in birds at national and international symposia. These accomplishments have been recognised through appointments into various professional groups. Additionally, he serves at two universities as an adjunct professor for graduate and veterinary students.

Since July 2001, Dr Powell worked within Market Development and Technical Support for DSM Nutritional Products (formerly Roche Vitamins, Inc.). Prior to this in 2000–July 2001 he was Director of Technical Support and Research at Monsanto Animal Nutrition. From 1999–2000 he served as Director of Technical Services (Eastern US and Canada) for IGI-Vineland Laboratories, Inc. He has primary breeder experience from 1993–1999 when he was Director of Veterinary Services at Cobb-Vantress, Inc. and he began his career as a Technical Services Manager of Hoffmann-La Roche from 1991–1993.

Mark Barnes said: "Dr Powell will be a great benefit to our team as we continue our quest in being a premier supplier of breeding stock to the worldwide broiler industry or in Ken’s words, we can say, "Innovation means not being encumbered by traditional thinking"."