Marilia Rangel of Brazil has been selected as the new secretary general of the Brussels, Belgium-headquartered International Poultry Council (IPC).
Currently foreign markets coordinator with the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), Rangel holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of São Paulo and is fluent in Spanish and English as well as Portuguese. She will begin transitioning into her new role on June 1, and will assume duties as the IPC’s first full-time chief executive on August 1.
“Marilia was part of a final field of seven strong candidates who were given serious consideration by our executive committee,” said IPC President Jim Sumner. “She stood out based on her vision and passion for the organization, along with her knowledge of our issues and the need to build membership.”
The new secretary general will replace George Watts, who is retiring after serving three years in the position on a part-time basis. He will remain with the Council to assist in the transition. Watts retired in 2011 as president of the National Chicken Council in the United States, a position he had held since 1972.
Rangel, of São Paulo, has worked at ABPA for eight years and has been active in IPC affairs as the chief deputy to ABPA Vice President Ricardo Santin, who is also vice president of the IPC. During her work with the Brazilian poultry industry at ABPA, she worked in industry and government relations, international trade activities, coordinated sustainability issues, served as industry spokesperson at international events, and took part in trade and market access negotiations.
Noting that retaining the services of a full-time chief executive was one of the priorities that came out of the IPC’s strategic planning summit last year, Sumner commented: “The IPC is now 10 years old and, under George’s leadership, it has grown significantly. Our members recognized that if the organization expects to continue to grow and to thrive, we needed a secretary general who could devote the time and effort to make that happen.”
Poultry industry association representatives from 22 nations are members of the IPC, which was formed in 2005 as a cooperative forum for the world’s poultry producing countries. The growing organization also has 42 associate members that include producers, primary breeders, pharmaceutical companies, equipment manufacturers, and other companies that benefit from a strong international poultry industry.
The IPC represents about 80% of the world’s poultry production, and about 95% of global trade in poultry meat.
