WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA — The board of directors of Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) announced on Nov. 19 that it has appointed two new industry representatives as directors. 

Brent Watchorn, executive vice-president, marketing, Richardson International Limited, and Lawrence Yakielashek, president, Alfred C. Toepfer, were recently named to the Cigi board following a process that saw nominees submitted from a number of industry organizations.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Brent and Lawrence to the board,” said Murdoch MacKay, board chairman. “They each bring a wealth of experience to their roles as well as ensuring the board is more representative of the different sectors that Cigi serves.”

In June, the Cigi board approved a new governance model enabling board membership to expand to include representation from across the value chain. Prior to this change the board of directors consisted of members from Cigi’s founding organizations: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Wheat Board and Canadian Grain Commission.

The current Cigi board now has seven members from a cross section of the industry including farmers, marketers and exporters:  Murdoch MacKay, chairman; Henry Van Ankum, vice-chairman; Jim Wilson, secretary; Randy Johner, director; LeRon Torrie, director; Brent Watchorn, director; and Lawrence Yakielashek, director.

“This is an exciting time to be part of the Cigi board,” said MacKay. “Like the industry as a whole, Cigi is evolving and as board members we are all committed to providing the strategic direction needed to position Cigi for continued growth and success.”