This article shows the faces and tells brief stories about some of the people we have hired so far. I urge you to meet and utilize these talented and enthusiastic professionals in USDEC's international offices.

Several of our new international representatives will be attending next week's Board of Directors and Annual Membership Meeting in Chicago. If you are attending, please make a point to introduce yourself.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the new human resources USDEC is providing to help you increase your exports in strategic markets.

These new hires are part of our Next 5% strategy to increase U.S. dairy exports from about 15 percent of the U.S. milk supply to 20 percent by 2022.

Japan

Who better to serve as business development director for U.S. Dairy in Japan than Hisao Fukuda (fukuda-h@marketmakers.co.jp) , who for the past four years served as chief operating officer and secretary general of the Japan Foodservice Association, which represents the country’s $250 billion restaurant industry.

Previously, Fukuda served as senior agricultural specialist in the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, where he focused on a number of high-level trade and market access issues. His career promoting U.S. Dairy in Japan dates back to 1990, when he served as the general manager of a marketing agency selected by the National Dairy Board for its first overseas marketing program in Japan.

Secretary Vilsack interviews Hisao Fukuda, new business development director in Japan

Middle East

USDEC’s two new Middle East office hires—Karim Chachati (KChachati@amfime.com) and Firas Zahreddine (FZahreddine@amfime.com)—boast more than 20 years of combined experience in dairy and food sales, marketing, promotion and merchandising in the Middle East.

Previously, Chachati spent a decade based in Saudi Arabia working as a sales director for the French dairy company Lactalis. “When I started, our sales were consistently strong, but out growth soon increased four times,” he said. “I see similar opportunity and potential for U.S. Dairy.”

Zahreddine serves as key account manager, responsible for identifying and establishing foodservice and retail partnerships, and for the development of promotional programs to support partnerships. Previously in charge of food procurement for InterContinental Hotels in the Middle East, Zahreddine also served as senior international category manager of fresh food at The Sultan Center, the largest independent retailer in Kuwait.

Two new hires in Middle East have extensive experience in dairy and food sales, marketing and promotion

Southeast Asia

To accelerate faster commercial adoption of U.S. cheese and dairy ingredients, USDEC has formed a partnership with the Singapore Polytechnic Food Innovation Centre (FIRC) and has hired Martin Teo (martin.ct@dairyconnect.biz) as technical director of food applications. On behalf of USDEC, Teo will serve as a key contact between U.S. dairy suppliers and the FIRC to promote faster commercial adoption of formulations using U.S. Dairy. He brings with him 25 years of experience in the Southeast Asian food industry.

Meet Martin Teo, food application scientist in Southeast Asia

In Southeast Asia, USDEC has also hired Lee Su Yong (suyong.ct@dairyconnect.biz) as market access and regulatory affairs manager. 

Lee Su Yong

Su Yong has more than eight years of experience in Singapore's food industry, starting with flavor houses Givaudan and Silesia Flavors as a food technologist. She moved to the area of quality assurance with retail giant Cold Storage and then served as scientific and regulatory affairs manager with Fraser & Neave, Limited (F&B Division).

South Korea

USDEC has new representatives in South Korea.

Sohn's Market Makers was chosen to represent USDEC as of July 1 for several reasons, including the company's knowledge of American dairy products and ingredients learned by working for another dairy client, the California Milk Advisory Board.

Sohn's Market Makers has developed a niche serving U.S. food and agriculture organizations.

Clients include Potatoes USA, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, California Walnut Commission, Florida Department of Citrus, California Table Grape Commission, Cranberry Marketing Committee, California Dried Plum Board, California Wine Institute and USA Rice.

Sohn's does ongoing marketing activities and promotional projects for these organizations. In addition, a staff of 16 does one-off projects in Korea for well-known companies that include Hugo Boss and Diners Card.

Lan Sohn is the company's founder and president. Shinhyung Chung is executive supervising director at Sohn's.

Lan and Shinhyung are eager to bring smiles to the faces of USDEC members looking to increase sales in a country that loves cheese. They can be reached at dairies@sohnmm.com

New faces representing USDEC in South Korea

USDEC also plans to hire a business development director in South Korea.

And, by the end of the year, two additional professionals will be hired in China—a market access and regulatory affairs manager and a research and analysis manager.

(Ross Christieson is USDEC's business unit director for North Asia, including China, Japan and South Korea. Vikki Nicholson-West is USDEC's business unit director for Southeast Asia. Marc Beck and Angelique Hollister oversee programs in the Middle East/North Africa.)

Margaret Speich is senior vice president of strategic and industry communications at the U.S. Dairy Export Council.  

The U.S. Dairy Export Council fosters collaborative industry partnerships with processors, trading companies and others to enhance global demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients. USDEC is primarily supported by Dairy Management Inc. through the dairy farmer checkoff. The password-protected article above is intended for USDEC member organizations only and should not be shared with anyone outside your organization.