The Institute of Meals Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit medical group dedicated to advancing the science of meals and its software around the international meals gadget, is proud to announce that Sean Leighton has formally assumed the position of Board President succeeding Christopher Downs, PhD. Leighton is the worldwide vp of meals protection, high quality and regulatory at Cargill.
A member of IFT since 1999 the place he was once a player within the IFT Scholar Affiliation (IFTSA) product building pageant, Leighton has served in numerous volunteer roles as a presenter, panelist, podcast idea chief, in addition to an advisory council member of IFT’s International Meals Traceability Heart.
“Sean’s dedication to advancing the science of meals has lengthy been an inspiration to IFT, its participants, and the science of meals group on the whole. He brings a singular point of view to the position, now not most effective as a world chief in trade, but additionally as a former pupil member. Sean has been an IFT champion for greater than twenty years, and we’re excited to look the affect he’ll now make as president of IFT,” mentioned IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean.
With a occupation spanning greater than twenty years within the meals and beverage group, 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. Ahead of becoming a member of Cargill in 2017, Leighton served as vp of high quality assurance, 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 Heart for Meals Protection (College of Georgia), The Heart for Meals Integrity (CFI), Partnerships for Meals Protection Training, 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 mentioned. “The IFT group method such a lot to me as a result of the essential and bold position it performs in bringing in combination leaders throughout industries, governments, and academia to assist make sure that our international 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 group.”
To get entry to the professional recommendation and assets, group, and innovation inspiration had to advance a occupation within the science of meals in addition to the way forward for meals, pass to www.ift.org/club.