WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Tom Sleight, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) since 2012, will retire this summer following the appointment of his successor.

“I have done what I intended to accomplish, and as I move forward to this new phase of my own life, I am confident the Council is headed in the right direction and poised for continued growth as a relevant, innovative and impactful organization,” Sleight said.

Jim Stitzlein, chairman of the Council’s board of directors, has appointed a search committee comprised of representatives from its diverse membership, including the corn, sorghum, barley, ethanol and agribusiness sectors.

“The board of directors of the Council has been preparing for this transition for some time, and we have a strong global team in place that Tom has conscientiously built to be able to take on the challenges of a dynamic market development portfolio,” Stitzlein said. “We would love for Tom to stay, however we are fully understanding of his desire for what is hopefully a long and well-deserved retirement with his wife and family.”

Sleight has worked at the USGC a total of 25 years, beginning in 1983, and having done nearly every job the council has to offer. Beginning in program implementation, Sleight went on to serve overseas in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, then returned to Washington to direct European, Middle East and Asia regional market development programs. Sleight rounded out his international background by also serving in the U.S. administrative side of the Council’s operations, directing its membership, communications and administrative programs.

 He left the USGC in 1999 to lead the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ marketing division and later the New York Farm Viability Institute.

Sleight returned to the Council as vice-president in 2010 before being selected as president and CEO in 2012.

 “When I look back at my time with the Council, I have always been impressed by how nimble the organization is, able to turn over rocks and work where the market does not to find global opportunities for U.S. agriculture and the coarse grains sector,” Sleight said. “Keeping and honing this innovative edge and staying closely in tune with our members' needs are dual goals the Council must never lose sight of.”

Despite being in leadership transition the organization is focused on expansion and growth. The USGC recently was awarded nearly $14 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) Program. The Council also recently was awarded an increase in funding from the USDA’s hallmark market development programs, the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program.