With two recent changes in the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) global staff, the organization added additional grain trade expertise that will benefit U.S. farmers and agribusinesses for years to come.

Haksoo Kim has been promoted to director in the Council’s Korea office, and Ryan LeGrand has returned to the Council staff as assistant director in the Mexico office.

“Both Korea and Mexico are top markets for U.S. feed grains and are Council priorities,� said USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight.

“Our programs in both of these places have evolved into a complex mixture of technical, trade and policy activities. To have such expertise on hand in these competitive markets with evolving priorities will help the Council fine-tune its customer servicing in new and innovative ways.�

Mr. Kim joined the Council as assistant director in Korea this past July. In his new capacity, he will identify and address the critical factors in market demand for U.S. coarse grains and co-products in Korea. He is succeeding Byong Ryol Min, who retired last month.

Prior to joining the Council, Mr. Kim spent the majority of his career at the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation in a variety of capacities. In addition, Mr. Kim has experience with the Council from his time as president of aT Grain Corporation, during which time he served as a USGC delegate and sat on the Asia Advisory Team.

In his new position, LeGrand will work with the director in Mexico to continue to develop the Council’s extensive programs there in corn, barley, sorghum and their value-added co-products.

LeGrand previously held positions with Gavilon and Hawkeye Gold. He is rejoining the Council after 10 years having previously served as the manager of international operations for distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from 2005 to 2006.

The addition of an assistant director position in USGC’s office in Mexico was made possible by support from the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council.

LeGrand’s first day was Nov. 1.