Chobani names Dipak Golechha its chief financial officer

Dipak Golechha was named chief financial officer of Greek yogurt maker Chobani Inc., New Berlin, N.Y. Golechha worked for 18 years at Procter & Gamble, where he held a variety of finance, operational and management positions, including CFO of the Global Snacks Division. He replaces James McConeghy, who stepped down from his role in November. The announcement was made on Dec. 3.

Golechha will report directly to Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani's Founder and CEO, and will oversee Chobani's financial, accounting and IT functions.

"Dipak's vast leadership and management experience, combined with our shared vision for Chobani, will support our continued growth and our future plans for expansion," said Hamdi Ulukaya in statement. "Dipak joins a strong leadership team and will play a critical role in ensuring Chobani maintains the financial strength and flexibility it needs to build on our momentum as we prepare for an even stronger year ahead."

Golechha is the latest of several executive appointments in recent months and joins David Denholm, Chief Operating Officer, and Peter McGuinness, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, on the leadership team. Chobani also recently announced some additional key appointments in core areas – Andreas Sokollek, who brings more than 24 years of operations excellence and project management experience, as Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Operations. In October, it named Dr. Alejandro Mazzotta as Vice President of Global Quality, Food Safety, and Regulatory Affairs, bringing to the team more than two decades of leadership at global packaged goods companies.

Kevin C. Yost leaves Saputo's U.S. dairy foods division

In December, Kevin C. Yost resigned as the president and chief operating officer of the Dairy Foods Division (USA) of Saputo, the Canadian-based dairy processor. Saputo's President and Chief Operating Officer Dino Dello Sbarba will act as interim president and chief operating officer of the division. Saputo made the announcement on Dec. 2.

CDR's Mark Johnson receives UW-Madison's highest honor

The University of Wisconsin- Madison honored Center for Dairy Research Senior Scientist Mark Johnson with the title “Distinguished Scientist.” This title is only given to those who have exhibited “unique and outstanding performance” in a chosen field and are recognized by their peers as an invaluable resource. There is no higher designation for University staff.

A Center employee for more than 30 years, Johnson’s research has been vital to the cheese industry, directly contributing to continued innovation. His work on the calcium lactate crystal defect and his continued participation and leadership with regards to the dairy short courses has impacted the dairy industry in countless ways. Johnson’s research efforts are always selfless, performing the necessary research and then transferring that knowledge directly to industry. Even before he publishes his research, he is thinking of ways to communicate and teach the new information to those that can use it to advance the dairy industry. He is internationally recognized as one of the World’s leading dairy scientists.

Kirkpatrick, Travis receive the Richard E. Lyng Award

The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board honored Elwood Kirkpatrick (left) and Billy Travis (below) as the 2013 recipients of the Richard E. Lyng Award, for their extensive contributions and distinguished service to dairy promotion. Kirkpatrick is a producer from Kinde, Mich., and Travis is a producer from Princeton, Ky.

The award is named for former U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Richard E. Lyng, who played a key role in implementing policies that led to the establishment of the NDB 30 years ago. The Lyng Award honors dairy industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to dairy promotion that benefits the entire industry.

“Elwood Kirkpatrick served the dairy industry for nearly 30 years, playing an instrumental role in domestic and international dairy marketing,” said Steve Maddox, California dairy producer and outgoing chairman of the NDB. “Elwood’s contributions brought efficiencies to producer investments in promotion and found new markets for our products that are still making a difference today.”

Kirkpatrick helped lead the charge to unify dairy promotion and marketing efforts by bringing together the activities of the NDB and UDIA through the formation of Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI). DMI manages the national dairy checkoff, saving dairy producers millions of dollars by streamlining activities and creating a more effective, unified national program.

Kirkpatrick also served as the first chairman of the U.S. Dairy Export Council®, where he led efforts to establish and grow the U.S. dairy export sector. In the mid-1990s when the Council was created, dairy exports represented less than 3 percent of annual milk production. Seeing the potential to grow export markets, Kirkpatrick led activities that grew demand for U.S. dairy around the world. Today, exports represent 15 percent of annual milk production.

Travis also has been a dairy promotion leader nationally, regionally and locally since 1984. “Billy’s ‘can do’ attitude and great sense of humor helped strengthen dairy promotion organization relationships nationally and locally,” Maddox said. “His enthusiasm, passion and energy motivated fellow dairy producers from all areas of the country as he worked tirelessly to show producers who and why their investment in the checkoff benefited them.”

Travis held numerous dairy promotion leadership positions throughout the years, starting with his election as president of Mid-South Dairy and Food Nutrition Council in 1984. From there, Travis served as president of the American Dairy Association of Kentucky before being elected chairman of the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, a position he held between 1994 and 2002. Travis served on the UDIA Board for more than 20 years, where his fellow producers elected him second vice chairman of the UDIA and chairman of the DMI Producer Relations and Consumer Confidence Committee.

Long-time Perry's Ice Cream employee is honored by uniform company

John Aylsworth of Perry's Ice Cream, Akron, N.Y., received a Lifetime Achievement Award by RefrigiWear Inc., makers of insulated industrial outerwear. The award recognizes outstanding performers in the frozen food industry. Aylsworth has worked at Perry's for 37 years.
Aylsworth was selected based a nomination from Dave Perry, Frozen Warehouse Manager, Perry's Ice Cream, for RefrigiWear's "14(th) Annual Warehouseman of the Year" award. The awards recognize outstanding performers in the frozen food industry. According to Perry, "If anyone deserves the title Warehouseman of the Year, it's John. He is a valuable asset to his team and to Perry's Ice Cream. I am thrilled he has been recognized in this way. Congratulations John!"

Tom Sandy is named the chief operating officer of Chicago-based brokerage firm Rice dairy

Rice Dairy, a boutique brokerage firm in Chicago, appointed Tom Sandy chief operating officer. Sandy has more than 25 years of experience in the futures industry, working primarily for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. With over 25 years of experience in the futures industry working primarily for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Sandy was recruited to facilitate the continued growth within Rice Dairy and guide the company through the evolution of new compliance and regulations in the futures industry, according to a press release. Sandy’s appointment will continue to allow for Pete Turk, Rice Dairy’s other principal and Rice to carry on the mission of the company to arm its clients with the right tools and information for participation in a very competitive marketplace.