AIB International is pleased to announce that Brad Allen, vice president of operations, Ardent Mills, will serve as the next chairman of its Board of Trustees. His term officially begins October 26, 2018.

“Brad has provided valuable insights to date as a Trustee,” said Andre Biane, president and CEO, AIB International. “His leadership as Chair will only solidify the future of AIB International.”

Allen’s career in the milling industry spans more than two decades. Prior to joining Ardent Mills, Allen served 18 years with ConAgra Foods. This provided him with diverse experience with wheat, corn, and oat milling, along with vegetable processing/dehydration, spice milling, blending and flavor manufacturing, as well as crop production. Allen was also recently named to the Board of Directors for the American Bakers Association.

AIB International has also appointed two new Trustees: Mahirwan Bhagia, senior director of global governance and compliance at PepsiCo, and Jorge Zarate, global senior VP of Operations, Grupo Bimbo. Both Bhagia and Zarate will attend their first board meeting on October 24-25, 2018 and will serve a 3-year term.

“Our new Trustees will provide a fresh perspective,” Biane said. “Strengthening AIB International for future growth across the globe is a priority. We look forward to the guidance and leadership that our new Trustees bring to the table.”

Bhagia has worked for PepsiCo for more than 22 years and currently leads global initiatives to deliver safe, high quality product in every package and bottle across more than 1,080 manufacturing plants. He is a chemical engineer by education.

Zarate has worked for Bimbo for more than 30 years and has served in several roles. He holds degrees in biochemical engineering, strategic marketing and business, and is a 1989 graduate of AIB International’s Baking Science and Technology Course. He also belongs to several industry associations including the ABA and ASB Board of Directors.