International Poultry Council names secretary general

Marilia Rangel of Brazil has been selected as the new secretary general of the International Poultry Council (IPC). 

Currently foreign markets coordinator with the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), Rangel will begin transitioning into her new role on June 1, and will assume the 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 the IPC Executive Committee,” said IPC President Jim Sumner. “But 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.”

Rangel will replace George Watts, who is retiring after serving three years as IPC secretary general on a part-time basis. He will remain with the IPC to assist in the transition. Watts retired in 2011 as president of the National Chicken Council, a position he had held since 1972.

“The IPC has certainly been fortunate to have had someone of George Watts’ caliber as secretary general for the past few years,” Sumner said. “George is well-respected as a poultry industry leader, and he has helped to bring the organization to where it is today.”

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 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.

Rangel holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of São Paulo. She is a native speaker of Portuguese and is fluent in English and Spanish. She will continue to live and work in São Paulo.

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. “The IPC is now 10 years old and, under George’s leadership, it has grown significantly,” Sumner said. “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 in 22 countries 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 boasts 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 percent of the world’s poultry production, and about 95 percent of global trade in poultry meat.