Milling & Baking News - January 10, 2012 - 32

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Rich Products unveils new governance structure
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Rich Products Corp. has unveiled plans to realign its governance and organizational structure, effective Jan. 1, 2012. As part of the realignment, Rich Products said it will transition from its current dual business group structure, North America and International, to one organization consisting of five regional business units: U.S./Canada, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, Europe/ Middle East and South Africa. “The timing is right for this next step in our organizational evolution,” said Bill Gisel, president and chief executive officer. “During the past 20 years, we have made considerable investments in our business infrastructure and built significant workforces across the world. The logical transition to one universal business group with regional governance supports the fact that we’re now truly a global enterprise.” Mr. Gisel said the move will strengthen Rich’s ability “to share our global business and in-market expertise with our customers, delivering trends and ideas from around the world that will help them be more successful.” Additionally, he said it “will enhance the development opportunities we offer to our associates across our company.” Several personnel changes were announced in connection with the transition, including: • Richard Ferranti has been promoted to executive vice-president and chief operating officer. Mr. Ferranti, who most recently was president of Rich’s North America Business Group, will have oversight of Rich’s five regional businesses. Earlier, he spent 10 years as president of Rich’s International Business Group prior to his North America leadership role.

Lindon and Meyers establish new commodity advisory service
NAPERVILLE, ILL. — The Connell Co. has discontinued its commodity advisory service, effective, Dec. 31, and two longtime Connell executives have established a new company to immediately carry on the business. Robert Lindon, who was an executive vice-president at Connell, will be owner and chief executive officer of the new business — Foresight Commodities Services, Inc. Paul Meyers, who was vice-president of commodity analysis at Connell, will be the chief agricultural economist at Foresight. Mr. Lindon said Foresight Meyers will be assuming all the accounts and business activity of Connell’s commodity advisory services, effective immediately. “Our objective is serving companies with their commodity purchasing needs, offering analysis, strategy development and information,” Mr. Lindon said. Mr. Lindon has 35 years of experience in the commodities business, commencing with work in commodities analysis and grains procurement for General Foods, starting in 1977. After holding positions with The Planning Economics Group
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and Dean Witter Reynolds, Mr. Lindon joined Connell in 1984, and has managed the commodity advisory service there since then. A longtime participant in the annual Milling & Baking News Purchasing Seminar, Mr. Meyers was responsible for commodity research, analysis and consulting services to segments of agribusiness. He has particular expertise in cocoa, sugar, corn, wheat, the soy complex and corn sweeteners. Before joining Connell, Mr. Meyers was a grains analyst for the World Agricultural Outlook Board of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was an economist with the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. With Foresight, Mr. Meyers will be based in Long Valley, N.J. For Connell, the decision to discontinue its commodity advisory service marks the end of a business operation dating back half a century. The company’s roots, dating to the 1920s, are in the rice business, but Connell currently operates a number of divisions involved in rice and sugar, mining, real estate, finance and equipment leasing. The company is based in Berkeley Heights, N.J. MBN

“Richard has successfully led our North America business through our evolving strategy that has focused on and advanced our strengths, while embracing the historic changes in the world in which we compete,” Mr. Gisel said. “His intellect, passion and long-term track record of success in a variety of important leadership roles across Rich’s make Richard the ideal candidate to assume this critical position for our company.” • Kevin Malchoff has been named executive vice-president of global business development. Mr. Malchoff, who most recently was president of Rich’s International Business Group, will lead the company’s efforts to advance the strategies, capabilities and processes needed to accelerate new business across the globe. “Kevin has devoted the past five years of his 30-year Rich’s career as the president of the International Business Group,” Mr. Gisel said. “Under Kevin’s leadership, our businesses outside the U.S. and Canada have driven unprecedented rates of growth and success in emerging markets across the globe.” •Jim Deuschle, Rich’s executive vice-president and chief financial officer, is assuming additional responsibility for the company’s global procurement function, replacing Bill Gillmore, Rich’s chief procurement officer, who has announced his retirement effective April 1, 2012. “Jim has worked closely with our procurement function to improve our ability to plan and forecast the impact of commodities on our business, and has continued to demonstrate strong leadership and valuable insight as a member of our executive team,” Mr. Gisel said. “His assumption of a closer leadership role over procurement is consistent with his responsibility for our enterprise risk management strategies.” • Maureen Hurley, Rich’s executive vice-president and chief administrative officer, is continuing in her current role with oversight of the company’s legal, communications and human resources functions, but she also will take on added responsibilities related to global human resource leadership. “Maureen has demonstrated a keen insight and ability to drive people and communication strategies that shape our culture and engage our associates,” Mr. Gisel said. “She will also be instrumental in driving the strategies that support our worldwide reputation.” MBN
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Milling & Baking News - January 10, 2012

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