WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Constance Cullman, president of the Farm Foundation, will replace the retiring Joel Newman as chief executive officer and president of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), effective July 29.

Cullman also will be president of the Institute for Feed Education and Research.

“Constance Cullman not only has a high track record of success, but she has the vision, integrity and passion for leading the U.S. animal food industry into its next chapter,” said Bruce Crutcher, board chairman of the AFIA. “As the U.S. animal food industry looks to create market opportunities in the global trade environment and better communicate with consumers about the industry’s sustainability efforts, we believe Cullman’s experience and foresight will serve our members well by opening new doors for dialogue about the issues impacting U.S. animal food manufacturers’ license to operate.”

Cullman has served in her current position with the Farm Foundation for the past three years. Prior to that role, she was the U.S. government affairs leader for Dow AgroSciences; senior director of regulatory, technical and international affairs at the Corn Refiners Association; associate administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service; vice-president of agricultural ecology at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation; and extension associate at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Cullman has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and a master’s degree in agricultural economics with an emphasis on international trade and agricultural policy from Ohio State. She is from Marysville, Ohio, U.S., where her family owned and operated a cow/calf farm.  

Cullman was chosen following a year of work by the AFIA board of directors and selection committee to identify top priorities for the candidate, select a recruiting firm, search for and interview candidates and make a final recommendation.

After 15 years with the group, Newman announced he would be retiring at the end of 2019. He will stay on until then to help with the transition.