Sean Leighton succeeds Christopher Downs
6 September 2023
2 minute learn
The Institute of Meals Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit clinical organisation dedicated to advancing the science of meals and its utility around the world meals gadget, is proud to announce that Sean Leighton has formally assumed the position of Board President succeeding Christopher Downs. Leighton is the worldwide vp of meals protection, high quality and regulatory at Cargill.
A member of IFT since 1999 the place he used to be a player within the IFT Scholar Affiliation (IFTSA) product construction festival, Leighton has served in numerous volunteer roles as a presenter, panelist, podcast idea chief, in addition to an advisory council member of IFT’s World Meals Traceability Middle.
“Sean’s dedication to advancing the science of meals has lengthy been an inspiration to IFT, its individuals, and the science of meals neighborhood on the whole. He brings a novel point of view to the position, now not most effective as an international chief in business, but additionally as a former scholar member,” stated IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean. “Sean has been an IFT champion for greater than two decades, and we’re excited to look the have an effect on he’s going to now make as president of IFT.”
With a profession spanning greater than two decades within the meals and beverage neighborhood, Leighton has intimate wisdom of the science and requirements that make meals protected and the methods to make sure the standard of provide chains that feed the arena. Earlier than becoming a member of Cargill in 2017, Leighton served as vp of high quality assurance, other folks protection and environmental sustainability at The Coca-Cola Corporate the place he spent 12 years in roles of accelerating accountability. Previous to that, he labored at Land O’Lakes Integrated.
Along with IFT, Leighton sits on a lot of advisory forums, together with The Middle for Meals Protection (College of Georgia), The Middle for Meals Integrity (CFI), Partnerships for Meals Protection Schooling, and the Meals Fraud Assume Tank (Michigan State College). He holds a bachelor’s level in bacteriology from the College of Wisconsin-Madison, a grasp’s level in meals science from the College of Minnesota, and an MBA from Emory College in Atlanta, Georgia.
“I’m extremely humbled and excited to step into the position of IFT president,” Leighton stated. “The IFT neighborhood method such a lot to me as a result of the vital and bold position it performs in bringing in combination leaders throughout industries, governments, and academia to lend a hand be certain our world meals gadget is protected, nutritious, and sustainable. I’m taking a look ahead to the yr forward and having this chance to serve IFT and the science of meals neighborhood.”